Be Ready for Hurricane Season

Preparedness is the best defense

September falls within the peak Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. This means that tropical storms and hurricanes are more likely to develop and potentially impact our members during this time. 

Choptank Electric Cooperative crews are always prepared and standing by to respond should power outages occur in our area. When severe storms cause power disruptions, our line crews take all necessary precautions before they get to work on any downed lines. 

In the event of a prolonged power outage, turn off major appliances, TVs, computers and other sensitive electronics. This will help avert damage from potential power surges and will also help prevent overloading circuits during power restoration. That said, do leave one light on so you will know when power is restored. 

If you plan to use a portable generator, make sure it’s rated to handle the amount of power you will need, and always review the manufacturer’s instructions to operate it safely.

Severe storms can occasionally bring down power lines. If you see a downed line, always assume it’s energized and never approach it. If flooding occurs, never walk through areas where power lines could be submerged. 

Follow us on Facebook for the latest power restoration updates. If you experience an outage, please don’t report it on Facebook. Call our outage reporting number at 1-800-410-4790 or report your outage on your SmartHub app. This is the fastest way to let us know if your power is out. 

We hope the region avoids severe storms this hurricane season, but Mother Nature’s plans are never certain. That’s why the co-op recommends making a plan today — because storm preparedness is always the best defense.