Safety around electricity…always

May is National Electrical Safety Month

Electricity plays a vital role in our lives, from powering home appliances and cellphones to keeping factories and hospitals running. While electricity is incredibly useful, it can also be dangerous.

This is a great time to look around your home, inside and out, to identify potential safety hazards. Be sure to check out page 24 in DREMC’s May issue of The Tennessee Magazine, and follow DREMC on social media for electrical safety tips for the entire family.

May is also the time of year that DREMC crews pay a little more attention to the weather. Spring brings warmer temperatures and blooming flowers, but it also brings an increased possibility of severe weather in Tennessee.

Please consider these tips to keep your family safe when severe weather threatens.

Be prepared. Don’t allow yourself to be caught off-guard. Have a way to receive alerts when they are issued – either a NOAA Weather Radio or a cell phone that receives alerts. Postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are likely. Have a place prepared for you and your family to shelter when the need arises – you don’t want to empty out a closet when time is of the essence. An emergency kit including a radio, flashlight, batteries, first aid kit and medicine should also be ready to go at a moment’s notice.

Act quickly. If you hear thunder, you are close enough to be in danger from lightning. If a severe weather watch is issued, pay attention. If a warning is issued, act immediately. Take shelter in a substantial building or in an interior closet. It is also recommended to get out of mobile homes that may blow over in high winds. Shutter windows and close outside doors securely. Do not take a bath or use plumbing. If you are driving, exit the road and find a safe place to ride out the storm.

Be smart after the storm. Be aware of hazards and debris left by the storm. Never touch downed power lines or anything in contact with downed lines. If it is dark when you are inspecting your home, use a flashlight rather than a candle to reduce the risk of fires.  Be sure your family is safe, and then look for opportunities to help friends and neighbors.

Regardless of what the weather brings, DREMC crews are prepared to respond 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We take seriously our responsibility to keep the power on and restore service safely and quickly.

DREMC members are encouraged to report outages via mobile app, use the website or call your local DREMC office.

For additional safety tips and how to prepare for power outages, go to the MY SAFETY menu tab. Find electrical safety videos and testimonials geared toward adults and children on DREMC’s YouTube channel @DuckRiverEMC.