Spring thunderstorms, high winds and winter ice are a fact of life in northeast Oklahoma. A little preparation before storm season can protect your home, your appliances and your family when the power goes out. The federal Ready.gov power outage guide covers general household preparation, and the steps below focus on your electrical system.
Install whole-home surge protection
Nearby lightning and utility switching can send spikes through your wiring. A surge protective device at the panel helps protect the entire home, including appliances and HVAC equipment that power strips cannot cover.
Set up a safe generator connection
If you rely on a portable generator, have a transfer switch or interlock and inlet box installed before you need it. Never backfeed through an outlet. Decide in advance which circuits matter most, such as the well pump, freezer, refrigerator and furnace blower.
Check your service mast and meter base
Look at where the power line connects to your house. A leaning mast, a damaged weatherhead or a loose meter base is more likely to fail in high wind. Repairs on the house side are the homeowner’s responsibility, and they are easier before a storm than after.
Trim trees near service lines
Limbs touching or hanging over the service drop are a common cause of outages and damage. Contact your utility about trees near their lines, and never trim near energized lines yourself.
After the storm
- Stay away from downed lines and report them to the utility
- Do not enter flooded basements or rooms where water may contact wiring
- Have water-damaged outlets, panels and appliances inspected before using them
- If your service mast was pulled off the house, call an electrician to repair it so the utility can reconnect
For storm damage repair or to get ready before the next storm, call (539) 263-1286.
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