Cape Breton's Magazine

During the winter season, severe storms can cause con? siderable damage to our power lines. Power interruptions may create serious hardships for some of our customers who are unprepared for a day or more without electricity So now is the time to review some simple preparations to ready your home and family for a possible loss of electric? ity during the winter months ahead. In the event of a power interruption, we are usually aware of the location and severity of the situation and our crews are sent to the scene immediately To restore power, it is necessary that we proceed in a systematic manner. First, repairs are made to the main line, then to branch lines, then to individual service lines. Depending on weather conditions, it may be many hours before service can be restored. Here are some suggestions to help you during these times. Keep one or more working flashlights and a supply of candles and safety matches where all family members can quickly get them. Have extra long-life batteries on hand, too. Use flashlights for moving around, candles for stationary light. Without heat, it will still take quite some time for your home to be? come cold. Conserve the heat by keeping outside doors closed, drapes drawn unless the sun is shining in, and all room doors closed. Dress warmly If you have a fireplace, light it and gather the family around it. And remember, your fireplace needs fuel. If you have an electric range, provide another way to cook food. For instance, a small propane-type camp stove can be used provided you set it up in another room with a nearby window slightly opened to dis? perse fumes. Shut off or disconnect major elec? tric appliances such as freezer, stove elements and oven, water heater, water pump, etc. during a power interruption. This will avoid an overload on our system when power is restored. Keep a lamp switched on so you'll know when electricity is again avail? able. When the lamp is showing a strong, steady glow you can re-connect your major appliances, one by one, at 10-minute intervals. Avoid opening your freezer door dur? ing a power outage. fm [I ''l V • PL A battery-operated radio is a must during a storm. Most j radio stations operate on ?? standby power during an in? terruption and therefore can keep you posted on devel? opments in your area. Keep extra batteries on hand. Your car radio can also keep you informed. The telephone should be used only for essential calls during storm situations to prevent ty? ing up lines needed for emer? gency calls. When power has been restored in your neighbourhood but you are without electricity check your fuse box or circuit-breaker panel. If all seems correct, check to see if the electric service line leading to your home is broken. If it is, call our local office and give them the details. Customers who depend on life- sustaining equipment need an immediately available alternate source of power. Storage batter? ies or a generator should always be ready for use. Also arrange for relatives or neighbours to come in and, if necessary, provide transportation to a hos? pital where emergency power is available. If you have life- sustaining equipment in your home, please advise us. It's important to us to know where the needs are greatest when repairing broken power lines. We all know that winter brings storms. For us, it can mean that our crews are out in all kinds of weather, working round the clock to restore power. For you, it is good common sense to be prepared for these emergencies. We trust that our sug? gestions will help you be ready for the storms ahead. A customer service from your nova scotia power corporation (36)