Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative (EMC) has been on high alert monitoring the path of Hurricane Ian and the severe weather it might bring to West Georgia in the coming days. In response to the threat, Carroll EMC entered level one of its emergency response plan and continues to prepare for any damage that might occur.
Weather forecasts show Hurricane Ian moving across Florida and up the coast of Georgia weakening into a tropical storm or depression by late Friday. Its impact on the cooperative’s service territory is dependent on whether it tracks to the east or further west.
“We encourage everyone to prepare for the worst and hope for the best,” said Tommy Cook, Vice President of Operations for Carroll EMC. “Our crews are ready and on standby no matter the direction the storm takes.”
Ahead of the potentially strong winds and rain, Carroll EMC has been encouraging its Members to restock their emergency supply kit with needed essentials such as water, non-perishable foods, first aid supplies and flashlights with extra batteries. If a Member relies on a medical life-support device, they should have a back-up source of power or an evacuation plan.
Members and all surrounding residents should also be aware of the dangers downed power lines pose when still energized. Coming into contact with an energized line could produce a serious injury or even death. Anyone who sees a downed power line should stay away and immediately report it by calling Carroll EMC.
“No matter the storm’s impact to our area, it serves as a reminder to always have our families and homes in order because this likely will not be the only hurricane that threatens us this season,” continued Cook. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to those in Florida in the direct path of the hurricane.”
To report an outage, use the Carroll EMC Outage Pal app, visit carrollemc.com or call 770-832-3552 (option 1). Please follow Carroll EMC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for additional storm preparedness tips and live updates.