With an Arctic blast forecasted to sweep across OG&E’s service area this weekend into early next week bringing sub-freezing temperatures, OG&E is offering customers tips to stay safe and warm.
“Each year, OG&E prepares our power plants for winter by the end of October to ensure continued operation throughout winter and protect our customers from extreme cold and winter weather,” said OG&E Manager of Corporate Communications Aaron Cooper. “We encourage our customers to prepare ahead of the arctic blast as well. Have a safety plan, check on loved ones, and consider identifying warming stations near you through OG&E’s warming stations list. Preparation is key to staying safe in any extreme weather conditions.”
OG&E WINTER SAFETY TIPS
- Identify nearby warming stations: Each year, OG&E provides a list of warming stations ahead of winter cold. A list of warming stations in the OG&E service area is available at OGE.com/WarmingStations for customers who may need to find a safe and warm place.
- Stay weather aware. Watch local news or monitor weather apps. Make sure you’re signed up for myOGEalerts. Check road conditions before traveling if expecting precipitation.
- Make plans for you and your loved ones. Have a safety plan and build a support network for elderly or homebound loved ones or neighbors. Know your options if you or a loved one have a life-threatening condition and need electricity to power a medical device. Include pets and their needs in your plan.
- Before leaving the house:
- Stock your emergency kits: Ensure your kits have everything you need, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, a portable device charger, canned goods, bottled water and pet food; keep one in your home and one in your car. Ensure your devices are fully charged.
- Include winter gear when traveling: Consider keeping blankets or extra coats in your car when traveling.
- Dress for the weather: If you need to be outside in extreme cold, wear layers, waterproof insulated boots, mittens or gloves, and a hat. At least half of a body’s heat is lost if the head is not covered. Never wear wet clothing, as this results in much faster heat loss.
- Weatherize your home to combat the cold. For example, customers can:
- Clean or replace filters on furnaces.
- Clean warm-air registers and baseboard heaters. Make sure they’re not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes.
- Caulk expansion joints and minor wall cracks.
- Check windows and doors for air leaks and apply putty, caulk or weather stripping as needed.
- Insulate water heaters that are in an unconditioned space
- While outages are not anticipated during this cold snap, should you find yourself without power during a winter storm, these tips will help to conserve energy, minimize heat loss and stay safe:
- Open your curtains and blinds during the day. This allows the sun to naturally warm the space.
- Cover windows at night to minimize heat loss.
- Place heaters on a hard, non-combustible surface.
- If the indoor temperature drops to 55°F, open faucets slightly so they drip to prevent pipes from freezing.
- Never use a gas range or charcoal for indoor heating.