Before a Storm
Protect yourself and prevent property damage by preparing for storms in advance and responding properly to dangerous conditions.
Outages: Report online or call us at 1-855-RIE-1102 if you experience an outage.
Be aware and prepare
- Charge your cell phone, laptop, and other devices.
- Turn the refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings. This will keep food fresh longer in the event of a power outage.
- Ensure your home is secure. Check that it’s secure, shuttered, and able to withstand a hurricane. Find out more: Hurricane Tips.
- Find more guidance on how to prepare and address power outages in our brochure, How to Prepare for and Respond to Power Outages (pdf).
To avoid overloading circuits when power is restored, disconnect or turn off any appliances that start automatically.
- Turn off and unplug unnecessary or sensitive electrical equipment.
- Use surge protectors.
- Unplug TVs before lowering a TV antenna or satellite dish. Be sure to also avoid power lines.
- Turn off all swimming pool pumps and filters. Wrap them in waterproof materials.
Gather all the supplies on our Storm Kit Checklist.
Establish a “safe room.” Ideally choose a windowless interior room. Keep your storm kit there.
Use a Generator?
If you have or are considering buying a generator, please review our recommendations to ensure you operate yours safely.