Believe it or not, the Atlantic hurricane season is already here! It officially runs June 1 through November 30, and Dominion Energy urges families to plan ahead.
Winds generated by powerful tropical storms and hurricanes can knock down power lines, leading to outages for homes and neighborhoods. Dominion Energy has a team of meteorologists constantly monitoring the weather and providing detailed forecasts specific to company storm preparedness and response.
If a hurricane or other major storm hits Hampton Roads, early preparation can make a significant difference. Here are some ways to prepare:
Download the App
Download Dominion Energy mobile app to report power outages and track restoration. The mobile app is the easiest way to report outages and track restoration time. You may also report outages on the Dominion Energy website, or by calling 866-DOM-HELP.
Avoid Downed Power Lines
Stay away from downed power lines. If you see a downed pole or wire, please report it by calling 866-DOM-HELP and stay at least 30 feet away. The line could be energized and dangerous.
Be Fully Charged
Fully charge your phone, computer, and other electronic devices before any storm arrives. Consider purchasing portable batteries to extend the life of your devices.
Prep Your Generator
Properly connect your generator. If you have a generator, make sure it is fueled, tested, and properly connected before the storm arrives, and always operate it outdoors with good ventilation.
Purchase Emergency Supplies
Prepare food, water, and emergency supplies in advance. Before any storm appears on the weather maps, it’s always good to have bottled water and non-perishable food on hand, as well as emergency supplies such as flashlights, batteries, first aid kits, and medications.
All Year Long
Similarly, Dominion Energy conducts storm preparation all year long. Company staff are ready and are stocked up on supplies. Dominion Energy uses advanced technology to assist with quick restoration if customers lose power. For example, the company use drones and electronic collection tools to support damage assessment efforts.
The company’s ongoing efforts to keep the power grid up to date improve its ability to respond to outages caused by major storms.
Before and during hurricanes, Dominion Energy will monitor the weather with the help of staff meteorologists like Jeff Mock, who says wet conditions and wind intensify the impact of hurricanes.
“Depending on the track, we might be at risk for more severe weather like tornadoes or thunderstorm-like rain bands which can cause additional localized damage in an area beyond the larger wind field of the storm,” he said.
That’s why it’s important to download the Dominion Energy app because the company will share real-time updates throughout a storm to assist families in staying safe.
“Our goal is to help Dominion Energy and our customers to be prepared no matter what’s to come,” Mock said. “We’re looking at the weather, using our experience, and making an outage prediction based on that weather. We can’t always prevent the power from going out, but if we’re prepared, we can minimize the duration of those outages.”
About 7 million customers in 16 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D), headquartered in Richmond, Va. The company is committed to safely providing reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy and to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050. Please visit DominionEnergy.com to learn more.
