In West Tennessee, it’s no secret that the weather can be unpredictable. Winter ice storms, a tornado or a summer downpour after weeks of no rain can disrupt the flow of electricity to our homes, schools and businesses. Severe weather events like a tornado or winter storm can cause hazardous road conditions, downed power lines and lengthy power outages.
If power lines go down because of a winter storm or tornado, you may be in for an extended power outage as line crews battle the elements to find problem areas and restore service as quickly and safely as possible.
A severe storm can knock out power in your area, leaving you without heat, running water or a way to cook food. It’s a good idea to put together an emergency supply in case of an emergency. A basic emergency supply kit could include the following items:
Battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio
Water: 1 gallon of water per person per day for at least 3 days, for drinking and sanitation
Non-perishable, ready-to-eat, food
Manual can opener
Flashlight and extra batteries
First-Aid Kit – including prescription medications
Tools: wrench, pliers, hammer, and screwdriver to turn off utilities
Cellphone with car charger, battery pack, or solar charger
Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
Complete change of clothes for each person
Cash and credit cards
Photocopies of important family documents (insurance policies, identification and bank account records) in a waterproof, portable container.
Paper and pencil
Books, games, cards, or puzzles for entertainment (especially if you have children)
Moist towelettes and garbage bags for sanitation
Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, and other personal items
Transmission towers and lines supply power to thousands of customers. They rarely fall but when they do, they must be repaired first before other parts of the system can operate.
Phase 2: Inspect/Repair Distribution Substations
Distribution substations receive high voltage power from transmission lines and then disperse that power at a lower voltage to Paris BPU’s main distribution lines. Our 13 distribution substations serve over 21,000 customers across Paris and Henry County.
When a major power outage occurs, Paris BPU crews inspect the substation to determine if the problem stems from the transmission lines feeding into the substation, the substation itself or if the problem is further down the line.
Phase 3: Check/Repair Main Distribution Lines
If the problem cannot be isolated at a substation, crews then check our main distribution lines. The distribution lines carry power to large groups of customers across the county.
Power can often be restored to large groups of customers once damage to distribution lines are repaired.
Phase 4: Examine/Repair Supply Lines
If local outages still exist, crews next examine and repair supply lines. These lines deliver power to transformers that are either mounted on poles or placed on pads (for underground service) and can be found outside of homes, businesses and schools. Occasionally damage will occur on the service lines between the nearest transformer and your home.
When the problem is in the supply lines, our crews will restore outages in the order that will restore power to the largest number of customers at a time.
Service entrances, or the lines that carry power from the meter to the wiring inside your house, may be damaged as well. A licensed electrician will need to make those repairs to safely restore power to your home.
As you can see, restoring power after a major storm is no small task and is much more than just flipping a switch or removing a tree off a damaged line. When we work to restore power, we are often able to have multiple crews working on different parts of our system simultaneously, allowing for faster restoration times.
In the event of an outage please remember that our line crews will work tirelessly to safely restore power to the greatest number of customers in the shortest time possible and will keep working until the lights are back on!
During extreme cold weather periods, please consider the following tips to prevent freezing of water pipes within your home:
Make sure the foundation to your house or mobile home is air-tight and that foundation vents are closed
Disconnect garden hoses
Leave a small stream of hot and cold water running from an inside faucet (when temperatures drop below 20 degrees Fahrenheit)
Make sure you and your family know the location of your home’s water shut-off valve. If a pipe bursts, shutting off the water promptly can help minimize damage.
Stay away from downed power lines or any type of utility equipment. Please note the location of the downed line or poles and call Paris BPU. Even lines that look harmless can be dangerous.
Make sure that each member of your family knows where your power outage kit (PDF) is located and what to do if an outage occurs when you’re not home.
Turn off all major electrical appliances that were on when the power went off, especially air conditioners or electric heating. You will want to leave one light switch on so you will know when your power has been restored.
Food will last much longer in your refrigerator and freezer if the door is not opened. Please do not open the door to check on the contents. Food can last up to 24 hours if refrigerator/freezer doors remain closed.
In the event of a major outage caused by an ice storm, tornado, or some other natural disaster, Paris BPU will broadcast messages with all information that is available via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram along with local media outlets.
