If you experience a power outage
If you experience an electrical outage at your home, please take the following steps:
- Check your fuses or circuit breakers to determine if the trouble might be in your own system.
- Check to see if any of your neighbors are without power.
- Call the Southern Pine Electric Coooperative Customer Response Center (CRC) toll free 24-hours a day at 1.866.867.5415. When CRC answers your call, you will be able to leave important information about your account. After your call is completed, an on-call Southern Pine employee will receive your account information and quickly dispatch crews to restore your power promptly.
- Someone from your co-op is on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Normal working hours are from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except in the Brewton office. It is open from 7 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Severe Weather in Our Area
As everyone knows, severe weather is not uncommon in our area. In fact, Southern Pine Electric Cooperative members live in the second hottest spot for lightning strikes in the United States, second only to the Tampa, Florida area.
If we are currently experiencing severe weather conditions affecting large portions of Southern Pine's service area, please check this section of the Web site for current updates on outages, outage response and other critical information.
Be Prepared Before the Storm Hits
Early Preparation:
• Purchase a NOAA Weather Radio that has an alarm and battery back up.
• Discuss with family where you should go if you are forced to evacuate your home.
• Learn the location of all official storm shelters.
• Stock boards to cover windows and glass doors. You can install anchors for the plywood and pre-drill holes so that the boards may be quickly installed.
• Keep a supply of bottled water, non-perishable food items, batteries and candles on hand.
• Make sure the trees near your home are more wind resistant by removing diseased or damaged limbs.
When a hurricane watch is issued:
• Check for official bulletins on the radio, TV or your NOAA weather radio.
• Fill you cars with fuel.
• Prepare to cover all windows and glass doors.
• Store lawn furniture, trash cans, hanging plants and anything else that can be picked up by the wind.
• Fully charge cell phones.
• Check supplies of medicines and baby items. Make sure you have extra batteries for flashlights and radio. Check to make sure you have candles, matches, fire extinguishers, first-aid kits, tools, insect repellents, can openers, sheets and pillows and work boots.
• Check tie-downs if you live in a manufactured home.
When a hurricane warning is issued:
• Stay in a sturdy building, away from windows.
• Evacuate if local officials tell you to do so.
• Move valuables to upper floors and bring in pets.
• Fill containers and bathtubs with several days’ supply of water.
• Turn refrigerator and freezer to coldest setting and do not open unless necessary.
• Evacuate areas that may be affected by rising water.
• Turn off heat pumps and air conditioners and unplug sensitive electronics such as TVs, DVD players, computers, and microwaves to protect them from power fluctuations that may occur.
• Keep alert! Hurricanes often spawn dangerous tornadoes, before, during and after the storm passes through. The safest place in the home is usually near the center in a small, enclosed, windowless area such as a hallway or closet.
• The calm of the “eye” of the storm is deceptive. Though it appears the storm is over, it is not. Usually the worst part of the storm occurs after the eye has passed over and the winds begin to blow from the opposite direction.
After the storm:
• Wait five to 10 minutes after power is restored before turning on appliances and heating and cooling systems.
• Check for electrical damage such as frayed wires, downed power lines, sparks or the smell of hot or burned insulation. If you find such damage, don’t turn your power on until repairs have been made by a professional.
• If you must use a generator, follow all manufactures’ operation and safety guidelines.
• If power lines and/or poles are down in your yard or on your street, treat them as though they were live even if the power is off. Stay away from them. Report outages and damage on our outage reporting number
1 (866) 867-5415.
• Never replace a fuse or reset a breaker with wet hands or while standing on a wet or even damp surface.
• A qualified electrician must repair the damage inside your home. Utility crews cannot make any repairs inside your home.
• If you must get out, drive carefully, watching for dangling electric wires, undermined roads, washed out bridges and flooded low areas. Do not drive through a flooded street.
• If your power has been restored, please turn on your front porch light for utility crews to see.
Storm glossary
Tropical Disturbance: a moving area of thunderstorms in the tropics that maintains identity for 24 hours or more.
Tropical Depression: an organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with defined circulation and maximum sustained winds of 38 mph or less.
Tropical Storm: an organized system of strong thunderstorms with defined circulation and maximum sustained winds of 39-73 mph.
Hurricane: an intense tropical system with a well-defined circulation and maximum sustained winds of 74 mph or more.
Tropical Storm Watch: tropical storm conditions are possible, usually within 36 hours.
Tropical Storm Warning: tropical storm conditions are expected, usually within 24 hours.
Hurricane Watch: hurricane conditions are possible, usually within 36 hours.
Hurricane Warning: hurricane conditions are expected, usually within 24 hours.
Category 1 Hurricane: minimal 74 to 95 mph winds.
Category 2 Hurricane: moderate 96 to 110 mph winds.
Category 3 Hurricane: intense 111 to 130 mph winds.
Category 4 Hurricane: extreme 131 to 155 mph winds.
Hurricane Tracking Chart
Severe weather information links
To help you better prepare your family in the event of severe weather, Southern Pine Electric Cooperative has provided a number of links to sites that may be especially helpful to you in times of bad weather. Please access any of the sites below for news and information pertaining to your current local weather.
To see what's happening currently on WKRG's live radar, simply click on the map below:
Click on image to view live doppler:
