SWEPCO continues to prepare for the arrival of winter storm Cora, expected to bring treacherous conditions, including ice and snow, to many parts of the service territory on Thursday.
From the company’s power plants to its line and utility professionals, the team is reviewing winter weather protocols and is prepared to respond as quickly and as safely as possible.
Outage assessment and restoration processes
In addition to SWEPCO’s full-time staff, more than 1,000 tree crews and other utility personnel have been activated from across the region and neighboring states to help respond to the storm.
As SWEPCO is reviewing all its preparedness and response plans, it urges customers to do the same
Already, more than 500 on-site and contract crews are positioned in areas predicted to be affected by the storm to begin initial response, specifically in the Texarkana and Longview areas, which are forecast for significant ice accumulation, and they have secured additional resources to assist with the hardest hit areas once damage assessment has been done.
Learn more about the outage assessment and restoration processes. As SWEPCO is reviewing all its preparedness and response plans, it urges customers to do the same.
Safety guidelines
Remember the following safety guidelines as the storm moves closer to the area in the coming days:
- All downed power lines should be considered energized and dangerous. Do not touch anything in contact with the line, such as trees, fences, or puddles of water. Keep children and pets inside during and after the storm. Stay at least ten feet away from any downed power line.
- If they plan to use a portable generator, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Customers on life support systems or other medical equipment that relies on electricity should have a solid backup plan for areas where prolonged outages may occur.
SWEPCO tools and resources
SWEPCO will issue updates and customers should sign up for outage alerts to receive helpful information. For more storm safety tips, and suggestions about what to do before, during, and after a storm, please visit SWEPCO.com/Safety.
Additionally, for customers concerned about winter heating costs, SWEPCO has tools and resources available at SWEPCO.com/billhelp, and the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program can offer aid to income-qualified residents. Winter heating applications are being accepted in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas.
Use the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) Service to connect to the local LIHEAP office and find other available resources.
