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For Immediate Release |
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September 23, 2004
Media Contacts: |
Sheridan
Becht
Grant J. Heston |
OUC Preparing for Hurricane Jeanne
ORLANDO - Although forecasters remain unsure of Hurricane
Jeanne’s ultimate path, OUC—The Reliable One is leaving nothing to chance and
has begun preparations for its possible impact on Central Florida.
Much as it did in successfully preparing for Hurricanes Charley, Frances and
near-miss Ivan, OUC has contacted other utilities and outside contractors to
evaluate their ability to participate in potential recovery efforts from Jeanne.
“We are watching the forecasts intently as we hope for the best but prepare for
the worst,” said Ken Ksionek, OUC General Manager and CEO. “What Jeanne does
over the next 24-48 hours will play a big part in our response.”
For Hurricane Charley restoration, OUC’s normal contingency of 125 linemen and
tree trimmers was reinforced by more than 1,000. Three weeks later, nearly 800
came to help for Frances, many of whom stayed in Central Florida to prepare the
electric system for Ivan and any future storms.
In the weeks after Frances, another of OUC’s proactive moves has been to
systematically eliminate any tree limbs or branches that potentially could
threaten power lines in another storm.
“Since we missed feeling the brunt of Ivan, our crews have been able to work in
several preventative areas to prepare us for another storm,” Ksionek said. “We
are rested from the Charley and Frances restoration efforts and ready to
aggressively and safely handle Jeanne.”
With Hurricane Jeanne potentially on the horizon, OUC is reminding customers to
take steps to prepare for the storm.
- Replenish personal hurricane survival kits and
review family hurricane plans. Pre-select an alternate location should
evacuation be required.
- If someone in your home is dependent on
medical equipment requiring electricity or has other special needs, arrange
for an alternate power source before a storm strikes.
- Prepare for the possibility of extended power
outages by purchasing fresh batteries for flashlights and portable radios. If
power is lost, turn off major appliances to reduce power "surge" when
electricity is restored.
- Customers who may use portable generators
should review safety and operating instructions. Do not plug a portable
generator into an outlet, patch it into electrical wiring or connect it
directly to a main electrical panel. Otherwise, fires could result or power
could flow into an outside electrical line and cause injuries.
- Update lists of important names, addresses,
phone numbers, account numbers, policy numbers, etc., of doctors, insurance
agents, family and friends.
The 2004 hurricane season runs from
June 1 to Nov. 30. Additional information is available online at www.ouc.com
Established in 1923 and owned by the
citizens of Orlando, OUC—The Reliable One provides electric and water services
to more than 190,000 customers in Orlando, St. Cloud and parts of unincorporated
Orange and Osceola counties. OUC is the second-largest public power utility in
Florida.
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