Hurricane season runs from June through November, and here in North Carolina, severe storms are a real possibility every year. Taking time to prepare before a storm is in the forecast can help keep your family safe and reduce stress when severe weather strikes. Piedmont Electric crews stand ready to respond to outages around the clock, but preparation starts at home. A little planning today can make a big difference when it matters most.
Start With a Plan
Before a storm is on the radar, take time to prepare your household:
- Create a family communication and evacuation plan.
- Make sure everyone knows where to go and how to stay in touch.
- Include pets and livestock in your plan.
Having a plan in place before the pressure is on reduces confusion and helps everyone act quickly and confidently when conditions change fast.
Build Your Emergency Kit
Every home should have an emergency supply kit with enough essentials to last at least 72 hours.
Include items like:
- Water and non-perishable food
- Flashlights and extra batteries
- Medications and first aid supplies
- Blankets and phone chargers
Charge all your devices before a storm arrives so you can stay connected if power goes out. A portable power bank is a worthwhile investment as well.
Stay Safe During the Storm
When severe weather hits:
- Stay indoors and away from windows and glass doors
- Monitor local updates using a battery-powered radio or sign up for wireless emergency alerts on your phone
- Limit phone use to emergencies to preserve battery life
Even if conditions seem to calm down, don’t go outside until local officials have given the all-clear since conditions could change quickly.
After the Storm Passes
Once the weather clears, stay cautious:
- Never approach downed power lines.
- Stay updated on outages using the outage map on our website or by following us on Facebook.
- Only run generators outdoors, well away from windows and doors — never inside your home, garage or any enclosed space.
Piedmont Electric crews will work as quickly and safely as possible to restore power, prioritizing repairs that bring the greatest number of members back online first.
Preparation is Powerful
We’re a local business, serving the Piedmont region of North Carolina for almost 90 years. When storms move in, our crews and equipment are already nearby, ready to restore power. Additionally, co-ops have mutual aid agreements that allow us to scale up our workforce quickly and cost-effectively, when needed.
In 2024, after Hurricane Helene safely passed our service area, Piedmont Electric crews assisted the restoration efforts of devastated co-ops in the mountain region of our state. This past year, Piedmont Electric benefited from those mutual aid agreements when we experienced extensive outages after Tropical Storm Chantal.