The Public Utility Commission Friday offered safety tips to residents as Winter Storm Riley continues to move across the state.  Should you lose power during a storm, consider the following:

-- Call your utility hotline to report outages - Do not assume that the utility already knows about your outage or that others have already called.

-- Do NOT touch or approach any fallen lines.

-- Stay away from objects or puddles in contact with downed power lines.

-- Do NOT try to remove trees or limbs from power lines.

-- Use a phone that does not require electricity, such as a cellular phone or corded phone. Cordless phones won’t work without electricity.

-- Do NOT call 9-1-1 to report power outages. Those calls take dispatchers away from other emergencies and can also slow a storm response because you're not talking directly to the utility.

-- SPECIAL NOTE: If you have a downed power line or another hazardous situation, call 9-1-1 and then contact your utility.

The PUC offered additional tips to help stay safe until power is restored:

-- Use flashlights or battery-operated lanterns for emergency lighting. Do not use candles or other potential fire hazards.

-- If you use a generator, do NOT run it inside a home or garage. Also, connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator, not your home's electrical system, which could shock or injure utility crews working on nearby power lines. Additional generator tips are available online.

-- Turn off lights and electrical appliances (except for the refrigerator and freezer). When power comes back on, it may come back with momentary "surges" or "spikes" that can damage equipment.

-- After you turn the lights off, turn one lamp on so you will know when power is restored. Wait at least 15 minutes after power is restored before turning on other appliances.

-- Check on elderly neighbors and those with special needs who might need additional assistance.

The PUC noted that consumers using natural gas appliances can also be impacted by storms:

-- Electric power outages can affect gas furnaces and other appliances. If they do not function properly when power is restored call a professional for service.

-- If you smell natural gas, get everyone out of the building immediately. Leave the door open and do NOT use phones, switch lights or turn appliances on or off, or take any other action while inside the building. After you are safely outside, call 9-1-1 from your cell phone or neighbor’s home.

NewsClips:

Despite Recent Improvements, Are Utilities Prepared For More Storms?

2013 PA Climate Impacts Report

Center for Rural PA: 71% Increase In Very Heavy Precipitation Events In Last 54 Years

AP: Storm Cuts Power To Almost 600,000, Kills 1 In PA

More Than 135,000 Electricity Customers Still Without Power In PA

Nor’easter Could Leave Some In Northeast Without Power For Days

Nor’easter Tore Through PA Suburbs, Thousands Remain Without Power

Thousands Left Without Power As Damaging Winds Caused Chaos In Lancaster County

Why The Storm Stopped SEPTA In Its Tracks

Multiple State Agencies Offer Support In Response To Nor’easter

Bus Passenger Stranded In Storm On I-80 Describes Experience

I-80 Travelers Stranded Overnight As Gov. Wolf Sends National Guard Troops To Poconos

Storm Causes Freight Train To Derail On Bridge, Plummets Into Susquehanna River

Landslide Cleared, Route 51 Ramps To West End Reopen

AP: Wolf Activates National Guard For Eastern PA Storm

Hundreds Of Thousands Of PA Residents Remain Without Power As Storm Continues

Nor’easter Slams Northeastern Pennsylvania

Wind-Driven Winter Storm Knocks Out Power In PA, Closes Highways 

High Winds, Wet Ground Expected to Wreak Havoc In Western PA

Storm Roars Into Lehigh Valley, 57,000 Without Power, Trees Down

Thousands Without Power As High Winds Whip Pittsburgh Region

Restoration Time For 6,654 Without Power In Erie Unknown

More Than 20,000 Erie County Penelec Customers Without Power 

Thousands Without Power As High Winds Hit York County

Presque Isle State Park Closed Due To Snow, Downed Trees

AP: Landslide Destroys Pittsburgh House, Knocks Out Power Nearby

Kilbuck Landslide Destroys One Home, Threatens Second In Pittsburgh

Landslide In Pittsburgh’s West End Could Disrupt Traffic Throughout Week

Landslide Leaves Pittsburgh Couple Homeless

Landslide Forces Closure Of Forward Avenue In Pittsburgh

Road In Allegheny County To Close Thru June To Allow For Landslide Fix

Insurance Policies Don’t Cover Homes Damaged By Landslides

With More Rain Forecast, Pittsburgh Monitoring For More Landslides

Massive Mudslide Closes Road In Armstrong County

Detours Posted Around West End Route 51 Landslide

Parts Of PA Under A Flood Watch, More Rain Forecast

Pittsburgh On Brink Of February Rainfall Record

1 Year Later, Tornado Recovery Goes On At Lake Scranton

[Posted: March 2, 2018]

3/5/2018