Waves of thunder rumble then roar toward your home as strong winds whip through the trees. Lights flicker, then fade, as errant tree limbs crush power lines. Another Colorado storm has announced itself and then doused your lights.

Other times, the storms come silently. Last winter it might have been the softly falling layers upon layers of snow that collected on trees and spread slowly over power lines, dragging them to the ground.

Other times the staccato tap of ice against windowpanes may have heralded a growing problem with your electric lines. One inch of ice on a single span of electric wire weighs as much as 1,250 pounds — a force capable of causing far more damage than wind as the weight drives tree branches and power lines to the ground.

Tornados, hurricanes, ice storms, blizzards — whatever the weather, the end result may be temporary power loss. Local electric cooperatives in Colorado routinely do right-of-way maintenance, trimming foliage and removing trees that hover dangerously close to power lines. This prevents all kinds of weather from blowing trees and limbs into power lines and causing outages. But when nature prevails, line workers, engineers and other employees of Colorado’s electric co-ops are standing by around the clock, ready to take action to get your lights back on.

But first they need to know that your lights are out. So when the lights go black, report your outage as soon as possible by calling your co-op. Then it’s a matter of waiting until repairs can be made.

But where will your electric co-op start the process of restoring power? When the co-op’s staff members begin assessing storm damage, they focus on fixing the biggest problems first, prioritizing repairs according to how quickly and safely they can get the most homes back into service.

Step 1: Clearing the path

When you think of how electricity flows to you, think of it as a river in reverse. It originates at a single ocean of power (a generation plant) and diverges from there into a series of transmission lines, substations and smaller feeder lines until it reaches homes and businesses at a trickle of its original strength.

Transmission lines, which carry power at high voltages from power plants, and local substations, where the voltage is lowered for safe travel to neighborhoods,  must both be inspected for damage and repaired before other efforts take place. After all, if the substation linked to your neighborhood’s power supply has been damaged, it doesn’t matter if line workers repair every problem near your home — the lights will stay dark.

Step 2: Bulk efforts

After restoring the flow of power to local substations, the local electric co-op’s focus is on getting power back to the greatest number of members. Distribution lines in highly populated areas are checked for damage and repaired quickly, delivering electricity to most members the quickest.

What does this mean? You might live on a farm with neighbors a mile or two away, or you could live in a neighborhood surrounded by 10 or 20 homes. Folks in neighborhoods will likely see power return before members in remote areas. Line repairs are once again prioritized by the number of members who benefit.

Step 3: One-on-one

After fixing damage blocking power from large pockets of members, the co-op will focus on repairing tap lines (also called supply or service lines). These lines deliver power to transformers outside homes and businesses. This is the final stage of power restoration, requiring a bit more patience.
Individual households may receive special attention if loss of electricity affects life-support systems or poses another immediate danger. If you or a family member depend on special medical equipment, call your local electric co-op before an emergency arises.

Still in the dark?

If you notice your neighbors have power while you remain out of service, there might be damage between your home and the transformer on a nearby pole. If you didn’t report your outage earlier, be sure to call your co-op so a line crew can make repairs.

There are limits to what the electric co-op line workers can repair. You — not the co-op — are responsible for damage to the service installation at your home or business. If the problem is behind the meter, call a licensed electrician to make your repairs.

Be Prepared
While utilities work hard to reduce the effect strong winds and storms have on power lines, it’s good to be prepared for any disaster that might hit your community.
Store a few basic items in your home. You should have at least a three-day supply of water on hand, one gallon per person per day. It’s also a good idea to have a three-day supply of nonperishable, high-energy food on hand — protein bars, breakfast bars, and canned food are winners.

Remember to store handy tools like a radio, can opener, flashlights, extra batteries, hand sanitizer, and first aid supplies. Include a seven-day supply of medications for you or other family members. Finally, retain copies of important documents — birth certificates, passports, and insurance policies.

Those are the basics, but you can further customize your emergency kit. Think about including family photos; candy, nuts or other snack food; even a deck of cards to help pass the time. Rechargeable flashlights in key areas of the home provide instant light if the power goes out.

To learn more about how to prepare for storms and other emergencies, visit www.redcross.org/domore.

   
Megan McKoy writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Virginia-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives.