Forecasts show the potential for Tropical Storm Debby to bring heavy rain and possible flooding to our region during the coming days. When the ground is already saturated, even moderate wind gusts can cause trees to topple, resulting in downed power lines and outages.  

Should outages occur, Albemarle EMC crews will begin assessing damage and restoring service as safely and quickly as possible. If additional assistance is needed to restore power, cooperatives rely on a widespread network of peer cooperatives across the state and nation for support.

If you encounter a downed power line, never approach it. Instead, notify your power provider.

Portable generators should never be used inside a home or garage due to the carbon monoxide that internal combustion engines emit. Always place portable generators in well-ventilated areas. Also, never connect a portable generator to your home’s electrical system. This can cause a safety hazard by backfeeding power to lines that linemen think are deenergized. Instead, only connect individual devices to portable generators. If you have a stationary generator, it should be connected to your home’s electrical system using a double-throw bypass switch, which prevents power from backfeeding power lines.

Below are some preparedness and safety tips to take now before the storm:

• Make a Plan. In case of a power outage or evacuation, have a plan for your family in place. Remember to consider a plan for pets and livestock.
• Prepare for Outages. Take steps now to charge cell phones and other electronic devices, gather medications and important documents, and prepare an emergency kit that includes a flashlight, radio and batteries.
• Stay Informed. Enable emergency alerts on your cell phone to help you make decisions for you or your family. Should an outage occur, your local electric cooperative’s social media pages and website can provide helpful restoration updates.
• Know Your Zone. If you live near the coast, you can look up your address by visiting knowyourzone.nc.gov to help you know if and when to evacuate.