LIHUE – KIUC urges members to be prepared for Hurricane Lane, currently expected to pass near Kauai on Friday and Saturday with heavy rainfall, high surf and high winds.
In the event of a power outage, be prepared by having a portable battery-powered radio, flashlights and extra batteries available. Protect your appliances and sensitive equipment from power outages and surges that may occur because of bad weather by using surge protectors. During a storm turn off and unplug all unnecessary appliances or equipment. When the power comes back on and is steady, gradually plug in your appliances.
Before evacuating your home, it is recommended that you turn off the main breaker. Locate the main breaker at the meter box outside of your home. Your main breaker is usually located under an easily opened metal cover of your electric meter box. Turn the switch to the “OFF” position.
KIUC will not shut down power prior to a storm. However, during a high wind event power outages are likely to occur and may be prolonged. “Our outage management system allows us to identify and track outages in real time,” said KIUC’s Chief of Operations, Mike Yamane, adding that it’s not necessary to report outages via phone. If you are experiencing something unusual, you may call 246.4300 for assistance.
The storm intensity will dictate how KIUC responds to outages:
• At tropical storm winds; repair crews will respond if it is safe to do so. Extended outages should be expected.
• At hurricane force winds, KIUC will not respond to outages until the storm passes. Re-energization will follow emergency service priorities.
During high wind events, objects coming in contact with overhead lines and electrical equipment can cause power interruptions. Sometimes during high winds power lines are knocked down. If you see any lines from utility poles on the ground, assume that they are dangerous. Do not touch them and if someone is touching a line, don’t try to rescue them and risk becoming a victim; get help immediately by calling 911.
Depending on the extent of damage sustained during the storm, outages could last days or longer. “Restoring power safely is always our top priority,” stated Yamane. He added that before commencing repairs, crews must make sure that any potential safety hazards are eliminated or mitigated.
The public can help the cooperative’s restoration effort by not cutting or tampering with utility equipment such as poles and lines that may have been downed during the storm. “We understand the need to create clear paths for vehicles as soon as possible after the storm,” said Yamane. “However, power restoration could be delayed if our equipment needs to be replaced due to post-storm damage.”
KIUC will keep the public informed via news releases and on its Facebook and Twitter pages.
