Hurricane Assistance and Recovery Resources
Posted by: Javier Vilchis | 07/28/2020 at 05:00 AMIf you were impacted by a hurricane, we’re here to help you in any way we can. We’ve provided helpful resources below or you can call us at (877) 282-6248, Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. CT, or Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. CT.To report an outage in your area, contact your TDU (Transmission and Distribution Utility). You can find your TDU’s outage reporting number on our website.
Power Outage Resources
- Never approach a downed power line. Call 9-1-1 immediately.
- Treat flashing signals or dead traffic lights as all-way stops. Call 3-1-1 to report a traffic signal problem.
- Turn off and unplug all unnecessary electrical equipment, including sensitive electronics like computers, networking equipment and TVs.
- To avoid damage from power spikes when power is restored, turn off or disconnect any appliances (like stoves), equipment or electronics you were using when the power went out.
- Create ambient lighting by strapping a flashlight or head lamp to the top opening of a gallon jug of water.
- If you’ve lost power for four hours or longer, throw away any food that is above 40° F or that has an unusual odor, color or texture, especially meat, poultry, fish, eggs and leftovers.
- When it comes to possibly spoiled food, don’t trust your eyes and nose – many foods may look and smell normal, but still harbor bacteria that won’t be destroyed by cooking.
- Create a temporary freezer by filling your clothes washer with ice and stock it with items that need cooling. The washer keeps the ice cold and water can drain as it melts.
