Ahead of the Storm: How Electric Cooperatives Prepare Year-Round

September 14, 2018, is a day Michael Barts will forever remember. Hurricane Florence had battered eastern North Carolina, leaving widespread destruction in the coastal communities he had always called home.

As a lifelong resident and employee of Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative (CCEC), Barts watched as the storm brought his electric cooperative's system to a standstill, leaving all members without power.

What followed was one of the largest restoration efforts in the cooperative's history as crews worked around the clock to rebuild the system and restore power to the communities they served.

"I've seen hurricanes before, but nothing of that magnitude," said Barts. "It opened our eyes to the need to prepare differently. The way we prepare now, with fuel, materials and housing, all came from Florence. A lot of things changed because of that storm. It left an imprint on us here."

Florence may have passed more than a decade ago, but its lessons still shape how Carteret-Craven EMC prepares for the next storm. As line superintendent, Barts now plays a key role in those efforts, helping ensure the cooperative is ready long before a hurricane appears in the forecast.

While many people begin thinking about storm preparedness when hurricane season arrives, electric cooperatives across North Carolina prepare year-round. The work of storm readiness is a continual process designed to keep power restoration moving as quickly and safely as possible when severe weather strikes.

"We're prepared all the time," said Barts. "We're constantly maintaining our poles, making sure our fleet is ready and keeping our rights-of-way clear. Those are the kinds of things that help prevent outages before they happen."

Barts has spent the past 22 years with CCEC, beginning his career in the warehouse before spending 13 years on a line crew and later working in staking. That hands-on experience continues to guide him today as line superintendent, where he oversees the crews that service more than 45,000 meters.

Having worked in the field himself, Barts knows firsthand the dedication required to keep the lights on and the sacrifices crews make to serve their communities, especially when severe weather strikes.

"We work around the clock, no matter the circumstances we face," said Barts. "Whether it's thousands of outages or just a few, we work until everyone's lights come back on."

While electric cooperatives spend all year preparing for severe weather, there are steps members can take to be ready, too. Keep these safety tips in mind throughout hurricane season this fall:

• Have a communication and evacuation plan ready for your family.
• Create an emergency kit including cash, flashlights, important documents, first- aid supplies and prescriptions, non-perishable food, water, clothing and batteries.
• Before a storm, charge cell phones and fuel vehicles, whether electric or gas.
• Stay tuned to local news and be prepared to heed the advice of local officials.

After a storm, cooperative members are encouraged to:

• Never connect a generator directly into the wiring of your home, and never use a portable generator inside.
• Do not use electrical equipment that has been underwater.
• Stay away from downed power lines, and be mindful that debris can hide fallen power lines.
• Follow your electric cooperative's outage reporting guidelines and continue to monitor online outage maps and news reports.
• Have qualified electricians inspect any electrical equipment that may have water damage.

For additional storm tips including food safety, scam awareness and more, visit https://www.ncelectriccooperatives.com/resources/storm-hurricane-safety.