Jeannette M. Mills VP, Customer Operations & Chief Customer Officer
Each June marks the beginning of hurricane season and with it, the need to be prepared for severe summer weather. No doubt, many BGE customers, as well as those living along the East Coast and mid-Atlantic region, still remember the impact of Hurricane Irene. Strong wind and heavy rain caused widespread, extended power outages. While we can’t stop extreme weather from affecting us, we can all do our part to prepare. Just as we start to put our emergency plan into action by monitoring the weather, keeping employees informed and participating in drills, our customers can take steps to be hurricane-ready. For example, keep our outage number (1.877.778.2222) handy in case you lose power, follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay informed, and most importantly have a storm kit and a family plan on hand and ready to go. Planning for storms and hurricanes can help save lives, as well as help you weather a storm-related outage. Some emergency kit items should include:
Flashlights
Battery-operated clock and weather radio
Fresh batteries
Fully charged cell phone with extra battery and/or car charger
Enough bottled water & non-perishable food to last for 3 to 7 days
First aid kit and prescription medications
Blankets and clothing (rain gear, sturdy shoes)
Cash and important documents (medical, insurance, financial)
Special items for babies, the elderly and pets
A full tank of gas in your vehicle
Corded telephone for your home
For customers who have special needs and require electricity to power medical or life support equipment, please make appropriate arrangements such as having a portable generator, battery backup or alternate shelter for care. BGE will attempt to contact special needs customers who are registered with BGE to notify them of a possible severe storm. Access our
Special Needs Customers page, to learn more about our Special Needs Program and how to register.
BGE understands the dangers and inconveniences that severe weather, particularly hurricanes, can bring. Simply put, preparing for extreme weather is the smart choice. On behalf of our leadership team at BGE, we wish you a safe and pleasant summer season.
Jeannette
