Have a plan in case of power outages Wednesday

GENESEE COUNTY, Mich. (WNEM) – With chances for severe storms Wednesday, Consumers Energy is urging customers to be prepared in case of power outages amid the summer heat.

“We want people to be safe and to stay in their own homes if they can,” Consumers Energy Spokesperson Brian Wheeler said. “But if you do lose power, especially when it’s hot weather, we want you to make sure you have your own plan for what you’ll do, where you’ll stay if the power goes out.”

Consumers Energy suggests:

• unplug electronics and turn off power strips to protect your home from power surges
• If someone in your home relies on life-support equipment, install a generator for emergency power
• Have flashlights in a place you can easily find
• Keep batteries on hand
• Make sure your phone is charged

With hot temperatures expected to last through the week, Wheeler recommends cooling down your home ahead of time in case of an outage impacting your air conditioning.

“It’s not a bad idea if you want to run your air conditioner in the morning to pre-cool your home,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler also suggests making a plan of where you can go if you lose power and need a place to stay cool.

“Public resources like libraries, shopping malls, theaters, there could be places in the community that do have power that can be resources to help you through a difficult time,” Wheeler said. “We work closely with police and fire departments making sure that we have those resources that we’re supporting.”

And if you plan to use a generator, Wheeler is reminding everyone to make sure you place it outside your home in a well-ventilated area.

If you do lose power, he also suggests keeping your porch light switched on and an indoor lamp turned on so both you and crews can see when power is restored.

You can also sign up for alerts on your phone or check the outage map online.

And a final reminder ahead of Wednesday’s severe weather threat: if you see downed powerlines, stay at least 25 feet away and call 911.

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