Atlantic City Electric Warns of Possible Outages

As the rain begins to fall in Galloway Township, Atlantic City Electric is warning of the possibility for power outages.

A severe thunderstorm carrying high winds and heavy rain was expected to sweep across southern New Jersey Tuesday night, July 24. The rain began to fall in Galloway just before 6 p.m.

Atlantic City Electric warned of the possibility of widespread and extended power outages, and advised residents to report outages or other emergencies, such as a downed wire, pole accident or tree limb on a wire by calling 800-833-7476.

The electric company also offered the following tips in a release issued late Tuesday afternoon:

·        Stay away from downed wires. They could be energized and electrical contact could be fatal.
·        Avoid crews working in the street. This will help maintain safety in the area and allow crews to focus on restoring service.
·        Have adequate prescription medicines or infant supplies on hand.
·        If you or someone you know uses life-support equipment that requires electricity to operate, identify an alternate location with emergency power capabilities and make plans to go there during an extended outage if necessary.
·        Assemble an emergency “storm kit.” Include a battery-powered radio or television, flashlight, a first-aid kit, battery-powered or windup clock, extra batteries, special needs items, an insulated cooler and a list of important and emergency phone numbers.
·        Keep at least a three-day supply of non-perishable foods and bottled water and have a hand-operated can opener.
·        Have a telephone with a cord or cell phone to use as a backup. Cordless telephones require electricity to operate, and won’t work if there is an outage.
·        Protect your electronic equipment. Unplug sensitive electronics or plug computers and other sensitive equipment into surge suppressors, and consider a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) for temporary battery backup power.
·        Turn off power to flood-prone basement appliances if it is safe to do so. However, if you have an electrically operated sump pump, you should not turn off your power.
·        Tune in to local news broadcasts for the latest weather and emergency information.
·        Follow the advice of your local emergency management officials.
·        Take cover if necessary.