March 20-26 is Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Indiana
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the three most dangerous months for severe weather throughout the United States are March, April and May. To increase awareness, the State of Indiana and the NWS recognize March 20-26, 2016 as Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Indiana, and NIPSCO is reminding customers how to be prepared.
This week is designed to not only increase awareness of inclement weather, but also to encourage Hoosiers to know their risk, educate themselves and know what to do when severe weather hits.
“Ensuring the safety of our customers and our communities during any storm is our number one priority,” said Mark Irving, NIPSCO Director of Electric Operations and System Controls. “And we’d like to use this week to remind our customers of the potential dangers and how to prepare for severe weather.”
Stay prepared with a few simple tips:
Before the Storm
- Monitor the weather and know what conditions are forecasted for your area.
- Compile a storm preparedness kit, including essential medicines, nonperishable food items, water, flashlights, a fully charged cell phone, portable radios and portable batteries.
- Make a list of emergency phone numbers and include NIPSCO’s 24-hour customer service line (1-800-4-NIPSCO).
- Sign up for NIPSCO Alerts to receive up-to-date information, including power outage status updates.
During a Storm
Safety is key. Stay away from downed power lines, damaged poles or other hazardous situations. Every downed wire should be treated as though it is an energized wire.
If you experience a power outage, please report it through one of our channels:
- Text: Text “Out” to 444111. (You will receive a response confirming your address and contact information.)
- Online: www.NIPSCO.com
- Mobile Device: m.nipsco.com
- Phone: 1-800-4-NIPSCO (1-800-464-7726)
Additionally, please continue to stay informed. Follow local news and radio and NIPSCO for up-to-date information. NIPSCO will also provide updates regarding the current number of customers affected, where outages are located and when power is expected to be restored, using the following channels:
- www.NIPSCO.com/Alerts – Sign up for power outage alerts to receive outage updates, including estimated restoration times, via text, email or phone.
- www.NIPSCO.com/OutageCenter – Find current information on the status of power outages and estimated restoration times. · http://m.nipsco.com – View the same outage map and details on NIPSCO.com from your mobile device.
- www.Facebook.com/NIPSCO or www.Twitter.com/NIPSCO – Follow NIPSCO’s progress through popular social media channels to view photos and power restoration updates.
For more storm safety tips, visit www.NIPSCO.com/StaySafe.