Power Outage/Emergency Preparedness

Don't get caught in the dark without a plan.

Sudden power outages and disasters can occur without warning. They can be frustrating and troublesome, especially if they last for a long time. For prolonged power outages, follow the steps below to keep the members of your household as comfortable as possible until the situation is resolved.

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Build a Kit

Here are a few emergency supplies you should have:

Three-day supply of drinking water
Non-perishable food that is easy to prepare
Radio, battery-powered or hand-crank
Flashlights and fresh batteries
First aid kit
Whistle
Manual can opener
Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanitation
Extra blankets and warm clothing, including a hat
Sleeping bags
Clock, battery-powered or wind-up
Any special medications you may need.
If you have pets, food and water for them.
Cash
A plastic tub or backpack so you can keep these things together.
Don’t forget where you store it.
Check out the FEMA Emergency Supply List.
Check out the Red Cross Emergency Kit website.

Make A Plan

Disasters don't plan ahead. You can!

Make an emergency plan today - Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is important to know which types of disasters could affect your area. Know how you’ll contact on another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find. As you prepare your plan, tailor your plans and supplies to your specific daily living needs and responsibilities. Download and fill out a family emergency plan or use it as a guide to create your own. Be sure to practice your plan with your family and/or household.
Help neighbors - Check on your neighbors, almost half of Americans expect to rely on their neighbors after a disaster. Your neighbor might have to rely on you, will you be ready? Learn skills you need to help yourself and others until help can arrive. Take the training Until Help Arrives .

Visit the following links to learn more:

www.ready.gov/make-a-plan

www.ready.gov/neighbors

Hazards most likely to hit this region:

www.co.mason.wa.us/forms/dem/all_hazards_guide.pdf

2021 National Preparedness Month "Prepare to Protect" Campaign

September is National Preparedness Month (NPM) to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. The 2021 theme is “Prepare to Protect. Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love.”

Because planning for disasters can be a bit scary, let’s have some fun while doing it!

During the month of September (beginning week 2), PUD 3 customers will have a chance to participate in our preparedness campaign to win some great prizes! Follow along below to learn how you can win!

Week 1 - September 1-4: Make A Plan www.ready.gov/plan

Talk to your friends and family about how you will communicate before, during, and after a disaster. Involve your entire family, including your children, in planning for disasters and emergencies so they are prepared, not afraid when an emergency or disaster occurs.

Week 2 - September 5-11: Build A Kit

Gather supplies that will last for several days after a disaster for everyone living in your home. Don’t forget to consider the unique needs each person or pet may have in case you have to evacuate quickly.

Create or update your emergency supplies with this list: www.ready.gov/kit. You can also check out this page for other great tips.

Once you’ve built your kit, if you’re a PUD 3 customer, send us a picture of it to social@masonpud3.org . Your name will be entered into our drawing for a chance to win an outage preparedness basket.

Week 3 - September 12-18: Low-Cost, No-Cost Preparedness

Natural disasters don’t wait for a convenient time. Preparing for them shouldn’t wait either. Start today by signing up for alerts, safe-guarding important documents, and taking other low cost and no cost preparedness actions to lessen the impact of disasters and emergencies for you and your family.

Drills aren’t just for the toolbox. Practice emergency drills with your family regularly and visit www.ready.gov/be-informed to download free preparedness products to help your family plan and prepare for an emergency.

PUD 3 Customers, send an action step you’ve taken to prepare for a disaster to us at social@masonpud3.org to be entered into our drawing for a chance to win an Outage Preparedness Basket!

Week 4 - September 19-25: Teach Youth About Preparedness

Being prepared for disasters starts at home. Everyone can be part of helping to prepare for emergencies. Young children and teens alike can be a part of the process. As a parent, guardian, or other family member, you have an important role to play when it comes to protecting the children in your life and helping them be prepared in case disaster strikes.

Talk to your kids about preparing for emergencies and what to do in case you are separated. Many parents aren’t familiar with their child’s school evacuation & reunification plans. Are you?

PUD 3 Customers, send an email to social@masonpud3.org explaing how you’ve helped prepare youth, elderly parents, or neighbors for a disaster to be entered into our drawing for a chance to win an Outage Preparedness Basket!

Disasters Don’t Plan Ahead, But You Can!

Be Informed

Know how to access community resources

The quickest, easiest, and most efficient way to report a power outage is on our SmartHub app. Download it and setup an account today. Click the links below, or visit my.PUD3.org for the web-version.

Check out the mobile-friendly PUD 3 Outage Map and view up-to-date information about outages in Mason County.
PUD 3 system status, and alerts to major outages can also be viewed on PUD 3's Homepage; Facebook; and Twitter.
Public safety officials use timely and reliable systems to alert you and your family in the event of natural or man-made disasters. Research the different warning alerts you can receive and the types of devise that receive alerts at www.ready.gov/alerts.
Add a NOAA weather radio, a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information, to your emergency kit. Shelton, WA NOAA updates
Mason County Emergency Alert Notification sign up: www.co.mason.wa.us/forms/dem/emergency_alert_notification_application.pdf

Power Outage Tips

During an outage, open the refrigerator and freezer doors as seldom as possible. Don’t leave them open very long. Food will stay frozen for about 72 hours in an unopened, non-operating freezer.

If you have an emergency heating source, learn how to use it properly to prevent fire and ensure proper ventilation.
Learn about PUD 3 generator safety.
Report downed power lines. Shelton: (360) 426-8255; Belfair: (360) 275-2833; Elma: (360) 861-4247 or call 911.
Turn off or disconnect appliances, equipment, or electronics. Keep them turned off until 20 minutes after power has been restored.
Track the outage using PUD 3's SmartHub app.
Leave one light turned on so you will know when power is restored.
Don't approach crews in the field. For your safety and theirs, please keep a safe distance and contact our offices for questions or concerns.

Power Restoration Process

Getting the power back on safely takes planning. From day one, we create detailed plans for how to safely restore power in a variety of events. We plan how crews will be deployed, how information will be shared with customers, and when to call for additional help.

Here's how it works:

STEP 1: SAFETY RESPONSE & DAMAGE ASSESSMENT

During and after a storm, PUD crews de-energize downed lines and safely assess other damaged parts of the system to reduce potential dangers.

STEP 2: TRANSMISSION LINES

High-voltage transmission towers and lines seldom fail but can be damaged by severe wind or flooding. One line can serve tens of thousands of people. If one of these lines is damaged, the focus is to restore it first.

STEP 3: SUBSTATIONS

PUD crews check distribution substations, which can serve several thousand homes and businesses, to see if a major outage is occurring because of a problem at the substation or with the transmission line coming into the facility.

STEP 4: MAIN DISTRIBUTION LINES

Main distribution lines carry power from substations to a central point in a neighborhood. When power is restored on these lines, whole neighborhoods may see the lights come back on as long as there are no problems further down the line.

STEP 5: LOCAL DISTRIBUTION LINES

Local distribution lines carry electricity to transformers serving one to several homes or businesses. Crews work on these lines after repairs to the main distribution lines and prioritize locations to get the largest number of customers back in service. Secondary service lines run from transformers to individual homes. These lines are typically the last to be restored during storm events.

STEP 6: SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

Once power is restored, the recovery plan is assessed to identify parts of the system that may benefit from upgrades or enhancements to reduce the likelihood of damage in the future.

I reported my outage. Now what?

Ever wonder what happens during a power outage? The PUD 3 Outage map allows you to follow the status of an outage in your area from the time the outage is reported to the time power is fully restored. View the PUD 3 outage map here.

Here's how it works:

	OUTAGE REPORTED PUD 3 is notified of an outage by our advanced metering system. Alerts are relayed back to our 24/7 dispatch via the fiber network. Customers also report outages using the SmartHub app, or by calling us.
	WE'RE INVESTIGATING The PUD sends lineman to investigate the outage. Often times power can be restored quickly. But when lines or poles are damaged, a full crew must be dispatched for additional work.
	PENDING CREW ASSIGNMENT If a full line crew is needed for the repair, one is assigned as quickly as possible. During a storm, this can take longer if crews are already responding to other outages.
	CREW ASSIGNED FOR REPAIRS Once assigned, the crew travels to the location and begins work. The time it takes to restore power can vary greatly based on the severity of damage.
	POWER IS RESTORED PUD 3 field staff and crews will work around the clock in all weather conditions until power is restored to every customer, often spending days away from their own homes and families.