Outage Center

Preparing for an Outage 

As much as Doniphan Electric Co-op does everything in their power to prevent them, power outages happen. Mother nature, animals and people take a toll on electric systems so it’s important you prepare yourself, family and home in the case of an outage.  

Before an outage: 

• Create a disaster/emergency kit current and know where it’s stored. For a comprehensive guide to building your personal Disaster Supply Kit, visit https://www.ready.gov/kit. 
• Consider keeping a standby generator at your home, especially if you rely on essential electrical equipment. Know how to use it SAFELY before an outage. Never use a standby generator within 20 feet of an enclosed space. 

During a storm: 

• Continuously check the weather forecast and watch for signs of an approaching storm. 

• Keep a weather radio in earshot, tuned to your regional weather service. 
• Know the difference between a severe thunderstorm watch and warning. A watch means there is the possibility of storms in your area. A warning means a storm has been reported or is imminent and you should take cover. 
• Stay indoors if you know a storm is headed your way. 
• Avoid water and electronics in your home during storms. Unplug electronics to protect them during a power surge and wait until the storm stops before taking a bath or shower. 

If power is lost at your home: 

• Don’t panic! Check to see if your neighbors have power. If they do, the problem could be inside your home. Check your main fuses or circuit breakers to see if they have blown or tripped. Replacing a fuse or resetting a circuit breaker may restore your electricity. 
• Keep freezers and refrigerators closed to preserve food. 
• Turn off air conditioners during a power outage and do not turn them back on for several minutes after the power has been restored. 

After the storm: 

• Before entering storm-damaged buildings, make sure electricity and gas are turned off. Do not turn off power if you must stand in water to do so. Call your electric utility and have them turn off power at the meter. 

• Never enter a flooded basement unless electricity has been disconnected. 
• NEVER go near downed power lines! They could still be energized and potentially dangerous. Downed lines, stray wires, and debris in contact with them all have the potential to deliver a fatal shock.