Prepare for Winter Storm Season
Winter is coming and that means an increased likelihood of storm-related power outages.
Improving EWEB's extreme weather preparedness and response while replacing and reinforcing aging infrastructure are top priorities, but power outages can still occur. It's important to be prepared and there are simple actions you can take right now.
September's National Preparedness Month is a great time to get a jump on winter by assembling or refreshing your household emergency supplies and plans. Here are some tips to help you get ready for winter storms or other disasters that could disrupt electricity:
- Make sure your Emergency Outage Kit is fully stocked and easily accessible.
- Develop an emergency plan that addresses any special medical needs you or your family members have.
- Purchase surge protectors to help safeguard valuable electronic equipment such as computers and home entertainment systems.
- To avoid extra steps during a power outage, make sure your current cell phone number is tied to your EWEB account. Update your account using our Customer Portal (myaccount.eweb.org) or by contacting customer service at 541-685-7000 or EWEB.Answers@eweb.org.
- Keep your fuel tanks full. If the power goes out, you may want to use your grill or camp stove for cooking, so make sure you have an adequate supply of fuel on hand. It's also a good idea to keep your car's tank full, since gas station fuel pumps rely on electricity. If you have an Electric Vehicle, charge it up ahead of predicted storms.
- Prepare for your heating system to be unavailable in cold temperatures by keeping a supply of extra blankets and warm clothes on hand.
- Get a back-up power source for your mobile phone and keep it charged.
- Make sure you know how to open and close your garage door manually.
- Keep cash on hand in case ATM or card reader machines are down.
If your power does go out, know how to contact EWEB. Customers who do not yet have a smart meter, or who have opted out of smart meter services, must report your outage to ensure you are put on a restoration plan.
Call our toll-free outage reporting line at 1-844-484-2300 or text 'out' to TXEWEB (893932).Use our online outage map to check the status of power outages.
Planning to use a generator?
Using a generator when the power goes out is a great option, but safety should be the top priority for both you and utility workers.
- Always follow the guidelines in your operator's manual
- Know how to shut off the generator in case of an emergency
- Never modify the generator in any way
- Never refuel a generator while it is running or hot
- Periodically run the generator to ensure it will start and run properly
Learn more about the different types of generators.
For customers with medical needs
Take a few moments to make sure we have your current contact information in case we need to reach out to you in an emergency. If you rely on electrically powered medical devices, or you care for someone who is medically fragile, we encourage you to let us know and to have a contingency plan in the event of a prolonged outage. Contact our Customer Service team at 541-685-7000.
Set up plans with friends or relatives to check on special-needs folks during an emergency, and transport them if necessary to a site with electricity, such as emergency centers, hotels or neighbors.
Water emergencies can happen too!
Although we most often think of winter storms affecting power lines, water systems are also susceptible to damage, as freezing and thawing can cause pipes to burst or fracture. This can happen to utility-owned pipes underneath streets and sidewalks, and to the customer-owned plumbing in homes and businesses.
Learn how to prepare your pipes for winter, and what to do if your pipes freeze. And remember to store water in case of emergency—try to store 14 gallons for every person in your household (enough for two weeks). Visit our Preparing for Emergencies page for tips on storing and treating water.
