Severe Weather Safety Starts Before the Storm

Living in southwest Minnesota means we experience all kinds of weather, from powerful thunderstorms and tornadoes to high winds, flooding, extreme heat and bitter winter storms. While it's easy to become accustomed to changing conditions, severe weather claims hundreds of lives each year and can cause widespread damage and power outages.

At Lyon-Lincoln Electric Cooperative, the safety of our members, employees and communities is always our top priority. Taking a few simple steps before severe weather strikes can help protect your family and make recovery easier when storms pass.

Watch vs. Warning: Know the Difference

Understanding weather alerts can help you react quickly when every minute counts.

Watch: Conditions are favorable for severe weather to develop. Stay alert, monitor weather updates, review your emergency plan, and consider unplugging sensitive electronics.

Warning: Severe weather is happening, is expected soon or has been detected by radar. Take shelter immediately in the safest part of your home, such as a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor away from windows.

Be Prepared Before the Storm

A little planning goes a long way.

• •   Install a trusted weather app and enable emergency alerts.
• •   Remember: a warning means it's time to act.
• •   Create a family emergency communication plan and designate a meeting place.
• •   Keep an emergency kit stocked with flashlights, batteries, a first-aid kit, portable phone chargers, bottled water, nonperishable food and supplies to last at least three days.
• •   If you live in an area prone to flooding, have an evacuation plan in place.

Help Keep Lineworkers Safe

When severe weather damages the electric system, Lyon-Lincoln Electric crews work as quickly and safely as possible to restore power. You can help keep our lineworkers safe by following a few important precautions:

• •   Slow down and move over when approaching utility work zones.
• •   Give crews plenty of room to work and avoid distracting them while repairs are underway.
• •   Follow Lyon-Lincoln Electric's outage updates through our website, social media or outage notifications.
• •   Never connect a portable generator directly to a wall outlet. This dangerous practice, known as backfeeding, can send electricity onto power lines and seriously injure utility crews.

Stay Safe After the Storm

Even after severe weather has passed, hazards may remain.

• •   Stay indoors if power is out unless you must leave for your safety.
• •   Watch for downed power lines that may be hidden by standing water, fallen trees or storm debris.
• •   Always assume a downed power line is energized. Stay far away, call 911 and Lyon-Lincoln Electric immediately, and keep others away from the area.

Severe weather is unpredictable, but preparation makes all the difference. By staying informed and practicing electrical safety, we can all help keep our families, neighbors and communities safe.