Ahead of the storm: Be power outage ready - WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi

Georgia Power is alerting South Georgia customers about possible outages ahead of strong storms expected to blow through late Tuesday and early Wednesday morning.

MORE: Severe weather outbreak heads for Georgia

Customer tools and resources Georgia Power offers:

• Outage Alerts – Since its introduction in 2013, more than 163,000 Georgia Power customers have signed up for the free service and are receiving personalized notifications and updates via text message, phone call or email if storms interrupt power at their home or business.
• Outage & Storm Center – Available at www.georgiapower.com/storm, customers can visit this site to sign up for Outage Alerts, report and check the status of outages, and access useful safety tips and information categorized easily divided by before, during and after a storm.    
• Outage Map – Housed within the Outage & Storm Center, Georgia Power’s interactive Outage Map provides near real-time information, allowing users to see where outages are occurring across the state and track estimated restoration times. A popular destination for customers, the Outage Map logged an estimated 1.2 million-plus views in 2015.
• Georgia Power Mobile App – Download the Georgia Power mobile app for Apple and Android devices for storm and outage information on the go. Use the app anytime to access account information and mobile bill payment options, as well as energy efficiency tools.
• @GeorgiaPower on Twitter – Follow @GeorgiaPower on Twitter for storm tips, outage updates, customer service and more.

Here are some safety tips for customers to follow when severe weather hits:

• Anyone with a life-threatening medical emergency should dial 9-1-1.
• Always avoid downed power lines. Any downed line should be considered energized and therefore dangerous. Report downed lines immediately to local public safety authorities and stay out of the immediate area.
• Avoid debris on the ground that may conceal downed power lines and make sure there are no downed lines before allowing children out to play. Do not attempt to make repairs to Georgia Power's electrical system or pull limbs off lines.
• Watch out for falling trees, tree limbs and power lines.
• Be patient. When major outages occur, Georgia Power crews must first restore power to transmission lines and distribution circuits before working on distribution lines that feed directly to homes and businesses. However, be assured that Georgia Power crews are working as quickly and safely as possible to restore power to customers.

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