How To Prepare For Hurricane Helene, Cope With Power Outages

FLORIDA — As Hurricane Helene strengthens and moves toward the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend area, here's how to prepare your home and family for what are expected to be Category 3 hurricane winds, storm surge and power outages.

Make sure you are prepared to be without electricity, Duke Energy said. Category 3 storms have sustained winds of 111 to 129 mph.

“Duke Energy Florida is preparing to respond as quickly as possible should our customers experience any disruptions in service,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “We strongly encourage our customers to plan ahead for the potential impacts of the storm and use this time to ensure they have all the supplies they need to stay safe and informed.”

Related: Hurricane Helene Packs 80 MPH Winds, Continues To Strengthen

Mandatory evacuation orders are in place for part or all of at least 12 coastal counties in Florida. Parts of Sarasota and Pinellas counties were placed under evacuation orders Wednesday.

Customers should consider these tips:

• Stock or replenish an emergency kit. It should include nonperishable food, flashlights and/or lanterns (with spare batteries), a first-aid kit and a portable radio and TV or NOAA Weather Radio.
• Prepare for extended power outages. Visit Duke Energy’s Storm Center to learn how to remain safe during all phases of a storm, and make plans for the elderly and those with special medical needs in case prolonged outages occur.
• Sign up for alerts and know how to report a power outage. Receive updates on restoration efforts by enrolling in Outage Alerts. If you lose power, text OUT to 57801, report it online or through the mobile app, or call 800.228.8485.

For more tips on how to prepare for severe weather, visit duke-energy.com/StormTips.

FloridaDisaster.org walks Floridians through the process of setting up a family or business plan by listing your name, address and county of residence. It then asks you how many family members you have in your household and any special needs.

You also note how many dogs, cats or other pets you have in your residence and list an out-of-town contact who your household members can check in with if you become separated.

It also asks you to select a common meeting location in case your home is inaccessible.

The site also offers residents links to Shelter Information and to Know Your Zone in case of evacuations.

More safety measures to keep in mind as the storm approaches:

• Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwaters.
• If rising water threatens your home or business — or if you evacuate due to flooding — turn off your power at the circuit breaker panel or fuse box.
• Never replace a fuse or touch a circuit breaker with wet hands or while standing on a wet or damp surface.
• If your home or business is flooded, Duke Energy cannot reconnect power until the electrical system has been inspected by a licensed electrician. If there is damage, an electrician will need to make necessary repairs and obtain verification from your local building inspection authority before power can be restored.
• Stay away from power lines that have fallen or are sagging. Consider all lines energized, as well as trees or limbs in contact with lines.
• If a power line falls across a car that you’re in, stay in the car. If you must get out of the car because of a fire or other immediate life-threatening situation, do your best to jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Be sure that no part of your body is touching the car when your feet touch the ground.
• Electric current passes easily through water, so stay away from downed power lines and electrical wires. Don't drive over — and don't stand near — downed power lines. Downed lines will be hard to see in the rain and can potentially be hidden in standing water. If you encounter large pools of standing water, stop, back up and choose another path.

Here's what residents can do to prepare for and cope with power outages:

Generators

If you are using a portable generator for backup power, be sure to use it properly.

Don't:

• Place a running generator inside your home or garage. Keep it at least 15 feet from any enclosed structure. The odorless carbon monoxide exhaust fumes are deadly.
• Store fuel in your home, or in your garage near potentially combustible appliances such as a furnace or water heater.
• Connect a generator directly to your home's electrical box. It can create a fire hazard, and might energize area power lines that utility workers assume are not "live."
• Run a generator in rain or damp conditions. If the electrical panel gets wet, it could cause electrical shock or damage the machine.
• Refuel a generator while it's running. Fuel spilled on a hot motor can spark an explosion or fire.

Do:

• Start and briefly run your machine a few times during the year to ensure it is ready when you need it.
• Make sure you have plenty of fresh fuel to power your generator. If the machine runs on gasoline, figure on up to 21 gallons a day if you want to operate it around the clock.
• Check the oil.
• Make sure the combined wattage of devices you plan to power does not exceed the generator's capacity.
• Use heavy-duty, properly grounded extension cords.
• Hire a qualified technician to install a transfer switch if you want to connect an emergency generator to your home's main electrical system.

Power Outage Map

• If you want to know how many areas are without power or need updates on restoration, click Florida on the map section of PowerOutage.US, and click on the county where you live for its outage report. This site lists the most recent reported outages along with each electric provider in the state.
• Sometimes when electric power crews are responding to outages, they will need to turn off nearby power lines or an entire power line that may have not been affected by storm or hurricane weather for safety reasons, Duke Energy said.
• If you have medical issues that require assistance from a health device that is powered by electricity, make sure to have an alternate location that will have electricity, or make sure to have power backups, the utility said.

Backup Batteries

• Have a portable battery charger or multiple portable battery chargers for your laptop, cell phone and other electronics. Make sure the portable battery is fully charged before power outages occur.

Other Ways To Prepare:

• Take an inventory of the items you need that rely on electricity.
• Talk to your medical provider about a power outage plan for medical devices powered by electricity and refrigerated medicines. Find out how long medication can be stored at higher temperatures and get specific guidance for any medications that are critical for life.
• Review the supplies that are available in case of a power outage. Have flashlights with extra batteries for every household member. Have enough nonperishable food and water.
• Sign up for weather alerts from your nearby local weather provider, and follow hurricane tracking by the National Hurricane Center or your local emergency operations center.