SCE&G urges customers to prepare for 2016 hurricane season

Today marks the beginning of the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season, and SCE&G encourages customers to take time now to understand hurricane risks, get prepared, make a plan and stay informed.  

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts a near normal hurricane season, with 10 to 16 named storms, four to eight hurricanes, and one to four major hurricanes expected.

President of Retail Operations Keller Kissam said SCE&G prepares year-round for the potential impact of inclement weather.

“Throughout the year, we routinely inspect our poles and wires, utilizing new technology to enhance the durability of our lines, conditioning our system to withstand, or quickly recover from, inclement weather,” said Kissam.

“We also trim vegetation around thousands of miles of power lines each year to significantly decrease the number of outages during a storm. Safety is the number one priority for SCE&G, and we are committed to maintaining the safety of our linemen who work diligently to restore power to our customers during a time of crisis.”

SCE&G advises customers to always avoid downed power lines and report all outages. Customers can report power outages via text messaging using a text-enabled cell phone or mobile device, or by calling 1-888-333-4465.

Other ways to prepare for hurricane season:

• Know your zone and make an evacuation plan. To find your evacuation zone, visit http://www.scemd.org/
• Organize an emergency supply kit for your family with food and other essentials, as well as a list of emergency contact information for reference.
• If flooding threatens your home, turn off electricity at the main breaker to prevent damage.
• Stay informed about breaking news, weather reports and power outages by following government agencies, trusted local media partners and utility providers on social media.
• If you lose power, remember to turn off all major appliances to reduce the potential for damage or fire. Also, make sure you have your phone or tablet close by to report outages.

For more safety and hurricane preparedness tips visit www.sceg.com. Customers can follow SCE&G on social media to keep up to date on important company updates, learn safety tips, as well as receive information about outage numbers and the restoration process.

• TWITTER – www.twitter.com/scegnews
• FACEBOOK – www.facebook.com/scegnews
• FLICKR – www.flickr.com/scegnews
• YOUTUBE – www.youtube.com/scegnews

About SCE&G

South Carolina Electric & Gas Company is a regulated public utility engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity to approximately 702,000 customers in 24 counties in the central, southern and southwestern portions of South Carolina. The company also provides natural gas service to approximately 351,000 customers in 38 counties in the state.