Northwest Iowa — It looks like we may be in for what has been a rare event this winter — an honest-to-goodness snowstorm.
The people at the Iowa Rural Electric Association have some tips for you to remember. Here’s Ryan Craig, the president and CEO of Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative.
Meanwhile, the National Weather Service says heavy snowfall and blizzards easily trap motorists in their vehicles and make walking to find help a deadly effort. Bitter cold temperatures and wind chills during and after a winter storm can lead to hypothermia and kill anyone caught outside for too long.
Craig tells us what to do in the case of a power outage.
Craig says electric co-ops know that there will be outages, and they plan for that.
He says they also bury any lines and feeders that they can to bolster reliability.
If you do have a power outage, according to the National Fire Protection Association (or NFPA), it is safest to use flashlights rather than candles. If candles are necessary, they say you should keep them at least 12 inches away from anything flammable, never leave them unattended, use sturdy holders, and extinguish them before leaving a room or going to bed.
If you need to run a generator, the NFPA says only run them outdoors, in a dry, ventilated area, and far away from windows and doors to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Hook them up safely and never plug them into an outlet to “back feed” power into your house. If using a fireplace, make sure screens are in place, and always make sure smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are in place, working, and have fresh batteries.
And if authorities tell you no travel is advised, stay off the roads unless it is an emergency.
KIWA Staff Photo
