Your Partner in Hurricane Preparation

June 6, 2012

Your Partner in Hurricane Preparation

If you’ve lived in a “hurricane-friendly” region for a while, you’ve heard it all before. If you’re new to the possibility, there’s a good chance you are unsure of how to get and stay prepared. No matter who you are you need the same thing: good information and a solid plan.

While Direct Energy can’t control the weather, we can help our customers and partners learn all they can about hurricane preparedness. We are committed to working tirelessly to helping the people and communities we serve prepare, react, and recover. Visit our Hurricane 101 page for information critical to helping you before, during, and after a storm.

Before the Storm
Make sure you stay up to date on weather forecasts, especially when bad weather occurs. Situations can develop quickly, so find good sources of information and keep them nearby. Direct Energy has the information you need to stay in the know.

Hurricane prediction experts expect this season to be “extremely active”. That means lots of storms, so stay prepared.
Know how to prepare and where to go if a storm does occur. All the time you spend planning ahead of time can save critical time in the event of a storm.
Print out the appropriate phone numbers at the bottom of this post. That way you will know who to contact if the power goes out.

During the Storm
Once a storm hits, how will you react? Direct Energy has some great ideas on how to safely and sanely weather the storm. Most hurricanes bring little damage, mostly inconvenience and occasional boredom. It’s still very important to stay safe, and Direct Energy has good safety information about that too.

After the Storm
Once the storm has cleared, it’s time to assess the situation. Do you still have power? Is there damage to your home or office? Has weather subsided? Direct Energy has some post-storm tips to get you started. Most importantly, a convenient outage tracker helps you understand the scope of the situation and current estimates for restoration.

If you have lost power, food and water safety is critical. And remember that boredom we discussed? Direct Energy even has a cure for that!

Hopefully the 2012 storm passes quickly, leaving behind only a little bit of needed rain and no real drama. If a hurricane does develop, Direct Energy is ready to stand by your side, from the first rain drop to the blue skies eventually to come.

Should you lose power, here is a list of contacts you should have on hand. Write them down or program them into your cell phone as computer and/or landline access may be difficult when you lose power.

United States
Connecticut
Connecticut Light & Power
Website / Emergency Contact Information
United Illuminating Company
Website / Emergency Contact Information

Illinois
ComEd
Website / Emergency Contact Information
Nicor Gas
Website / Emergency Contact Information
Peoples Gas
Website / Emergency Contact Information

Maryland
Potomac Edison
Website / Emergency Contact Information
Baltimore Gas & Electric
Website / Emergency Contact Information
Delmarva Power
Website / Emergency Contact Information
Pepco
Website / Emergency Contact Information