Summer Storm Safety Tips
Mother Nature has never been shy about unleashing her fury, and her summer storms may bring heavy rains and high winds that can present dangers at home and disrupt services you rely on. While we make every effort to deliver consistent, quality services without interruption, here are a few simple tips you can use to stay safe and to reduce your chances of experiencing service outages.
Before a storm:
- Prepare a storm emergency kit that includes bottled water, a three-day supply of non-perishable food, a first aid kit, and flashlights
- Fully charge battery-powered devices before the storm is expected to arrive
- Make sure you have a supply of disposable batteries
- Protect your electric devices by plugging them into a surge protector, or unplug them before the storm arrives
- Prepare your yard by trimming trees and shrubs that could fall and damage wires
- Secure or store loose outdoor items that could blow away, such as trash cans, patio furniture, and decorations
- Shelter animals inside or ensure they have the same level of protection that you do
During a storm:
- Use a flashlight instead of candles if the lights go out
- Avoid plumbing and wiring that can transmit electricity
- Stay inside and away from windows, skylights, and glass doors
- Use only wireless electronics
- Never run a generator indoors
After a storm:
- Stay inside for at least 30 minutes after the last sounds of thunder
- Survey your property for hazards before letting children and animals outside
- Call your utility company if you see any downed wires, but never go near them
- Contact us if you are experiencing any Blue Ridge service interruptions
Restoring services
There are many factors that can impact how quickly we can restore your services after a weather-related interruption, but when bad weather strikes, our team of technicians, engineers, and customer service representatives springs into action to restore services to affected areas as quickly and safely as possible.
Major storms can cause downed trees and wires which can prevent or limit access to roads and properties. If you are experiencing a power outage, your electricity provider will need to restore power before your Blue Ridge services can be restored. Additionally, the power company may need to declare an area safe to work before our techs can begin restoration efforts.
A quick restart might do the trick
It may seem like a cliché at this point, but in all seriousness, sometimes you just need to restart your equipment to get things up and running again. If your home or business has power and your Blue Ridge services are not working, try power cycling your affected devices:
- Unplug related equipment (modem, router, TiVo, etc.) from the electrical source
- Wait at least 30 seconds
- Plug everything back in and restart your devices
- Wait at least five minutes for your services to refresh
If you’re still experiencing trouble with your Blue Ridge services after you restart your equipment, check out our support center, chat with us, or call 1.800.222.5377 for additional assistance.