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Pepco Monitoring Approaching StormsPredictions Call for Damaging High Winds
WASHINGTON - Pepco is monitoring today's weather predictions that call for severe thunderstorms early this afternoon, as a cold front crosses the Mid-Atlantic region.
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch until 4 p.m. for the entire Washington Metropolitan Region. Wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour are predicted tonight in the wake of the cold front. Pepco is holding crews and will bring on additional contractors as needed if the weather predictions continue to call for damaging winds.
Extensive damage caused by high winds, saturated soil, and falling trees and tree limbs that come into contact with power lines requires extensive labor to cut up the fallen trees and to remove downed wires, install new power poles, and to restring lines and replace other equipment such as transformers and fuses.
This storm follows the ferocious winds in excess of 55 miles per hour that hit the region last Friday afternoon bringing down trees that knocked out power to 47,000 customers. Pepco crews supported by mutual assistance crews worked around the clock to restore power to all affected customers in less than 27 hours.
To report Power Outages and Downed Wires Call 1-877-737-2662.
If calling to report a power outage, a non-life threatening situation, customers are asked to call 1-877-Pepco-62 (1-877-737-2662) and press one for the automated system.
If reporting an emergency life threatening situation such as downed wires, pole down, etc. customers are asked to please call 1-877-Pepco-62 (1-877-737-2662) and press two.
The option for reporting an actual life threatening emergency should NOT be used to report non life threatening emergencies, as it will prevent customers with actual emergencies from getting through to report their outage.
Please stay away from downed wires and report them immediately.
Pepco urges customers to stay safe and be prepared. Here are some additional tips:
· Assemble an emergency storm kit. Include a battery-powered radio or television, flashlight, first-aid kit, battery-powered or windup clock, extra batteries, non-perishable food, manual can opener, bottled water, any necessary medications and a list of emergency phone numbers.
· Maintain a supply of extra blankets.
· Ensure that all household members have a warm coat, gloves, hat and water-resistant boots.
· Make sure there is a home telephone with a cord or cell phone to use as a backup. Cordless telephones require electricity to operate, and won't work if there is an outage.
· Identify a place for emergency shelter in case of an extended outage. It is important that customers with special needs or their caregivers take responsibility to make arrangements ahead of time to prepare for potentially long-lasting service interruptions.
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Pepco, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM), delivers safe, reliable and affordable electric service to more than 778,000 customers in Maryland and the District of Columbia.