If you wait, it could be too late

Chief Operating Officer Paul Jordon said last year’s cyclones Kirrily and Jasper in the north and devastating storms on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane were a harsh reminder of the impact of extreme weather on the community.

“In particular, extended power outages for nearly 300,000 Queensland homes and businesses that were in the firing line of these disasters were a significant challenge for customers and communities that were ill-prepared,” Mr Jordon said.

“Many people were caught unprepared for a week or more without power, leading to disruptions and inconvenience that could have been mitigated with proper planning.

“With severe weather on the horizon, it's essential to be proactive about your preparedness for power outages. If you wait, it could be too late.”

Energex and Ergon are encouraging people to begin preparing for severe weather-related outages now by:

• Creating an emergency kit: Ensure you have torches with plenty of fresh batteries, a battery-powered radio, gas for the BBQ, and enough long-life food and bottled water for a week.
• Ensure you have a couple of fully charged power banks to charge your phone and other communication devices. Don’t forget you can charge phones in your car. If a storm is forecast, make sure all devices are fully charged before it hits.
• If you own or plan to purchase a generator, make sure you start it regularly, never use it indoors due to toxic fumes and don’t plug it directly into your house because it can send power back into the grid, potentially killing or injuring Energex or Ergon crews working on the network, or energising fallen powerlines.
• Know and practise your rooftop solar shutdown procedure.
• Safely store any outdoor furniture and building materials, and clear vegetation in your yard. These can become dangerous missiles during high winds and injure someone or land in powerlines, cutting supply to your community.
• Keep away from fallen powerlines. Even if a powerline is on the ground, it could still be live and deadly. Similarly, if you begin clearing up after a storm, triple check there are no powerlines hidden among vegetation and other debris before touching it. Any fallen powerlines should be reported to triple zero.
• Keep electrical equipment away from water and never operate electrical appliances while standing in water.
• The latest Energex and Ergon outage information can be found on the Outage Finders on their websites, so save the link today.

Mr Jordon said preparing now can make all the difference when disaster strikes.

“Don't wait until it's too late – take action today to safeguard your home and family.”