Storm Safety
Should severe weather arrive, MLEC employees will be on alert to minimize and begin repairing any damage to the power system as quickly as possible. While MLEC makes proactive steps to prevent outages during severe weather, like right of way clearing and quality equipment and material, Mother Nature sometimes causes outages out of our control.
When those outages occur, rest assured that MLEC is working to restore electricity quickly. The key is to be prepared.
Here are a few tips and information for you.
What causes storm outages?
Many outages are weather-related. High winds and traffic accidents can bring down electric lines and poles. This leaves large areas in the dark. Storms frequently cause trees to fall across power lines, leaving a home, a neighborhood or an entire area without power. MLEC works throughout the year to cut trees back from power lines and maintain the entire electric system. But the rugged, rural terrain of our service area means that outages will be possible.
What should my family do during a storm outage?
- Keep an outage kit. MLEC offers tips for what your kit should include on this site.
- Call MLEC to report an outage. If the lines are busy, your neighbors probably also are reporting the outage. Please be patient. Telephones are answered 24-hours a day, 7-days a week - even on holidays. The phone number and areas are:
Hickman County: (931) 729-3558
After hours & holidays 1-800-482-6553 (including Dyer Rd.)
Lewis County: (931) 796-3116
After hours & holidays 1-800-256-2807
Perry County: (931) 589-2151
After hours & holidays 1-800-316-2342 (including Pleasantville)
Humphreys County: (931) 296-2581
After hours & holidays 1-800-893-8273
Houston County: (931) 289-3311
After hours & holidays 1-800-650-6814
- Leave your freezer and refrigerator closed unless absolutely necessary. Food will stay frozen for several days if left undisturbed.
- Turn off all appliances. Leave only one lighton to let you know when power is restored.
What should we do during an extended outage?
- If radio reports indicate that power may be out for several days, or if your power has been out for several hours, consider moving in with a relative or friend who has heat.
- Remember to check on the elderly and shut-ins in your community.
- If you use a portable generator, plug appliances directly into the unit. DO NOT plug the generator into a wall outlet, as that allows electricity to travel out of the house and onto electric lines. MLEC linemen working to restore power could be injured or killed from your electric generator. To have a diagram on using electric generators and installation instructions mailed to you, contact your local office or e-mail power@mlec.com.
What do I keep in an outage kit?
- Flashlights
- Extra batteries
- Candles and matches
- Kerosene, propane or oil lamp and appropriate fuel
- Paper plates and plastic utensils
- Battery-powered radio (and even more batteries)
- Wind-up or battery-operated clock
- Extra blankets or sleeping bags
- Containers for storing water and extra water
- Portable fire extinguisher
- Manual can opener
- Canned foods that don't need to be cooked or other easily prepared foods: fresh or canned fruit, powered milk and dry cereals, canned tuna, meat spreads, cheese spreads, peanut butter and crackers.
What can I do to help?
* Never try to move a downed line or the tree that has it pinned. Call MLEC immediately. Our linemen have the equipment and training to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.