WEATHER

Is your power out? Here's what you can do to stay safe and warm

Wausau Daily Herald

Thousands of people across Wisconsin were without power Tuesday night and into Wednesday as wind chills plummeted to nearly 60 below zero in some parts of the state.

Wisconsinites in more than a dozen counties from Tomahawk to Kenosha were without power at some point Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, according to authorities.

As of around 10 a.m. Wednesday, the largest outages were in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties, with around 1,000 residents without power in each county. But crews were working hard, braving the cold to get the power back on, We Energies spokeswoman Amy Jahns said.

"Safety is a top priority with customers and our crew out in the field," Jahns said, adding the workers out during the cold are dressed in layers and encouraged to take breaks in their heated vehicles while working.

Many of the outages around the state are due to the cold weather, Jahns said. The sub-zero temperatures are causing equipment to break or malfunction. In Kenosha County, over 600 customers did not have power in after the freezing temperatures caused power lines to constrict and snap, she said.

"We want to keep our customers safe and warm, and we are out there working to do that today," Jahns said.

Being exposed to such low temperatures even for only a little while can be dangerous. Here's what you can do to stay safe and warm if you find yourself without power during the polar vortex.

Call your power company

Jahns encourages customers to report outages to their electric company if the power goes out. She said customer reports help "pinpoint outages so we can address the issue quickly."

If you're a We Energies customer, call 800-662-4797 or go online to we-energies.com to report an outage. Those served by Wisconsin Public Service should call 800-450-7240 or submit a form online at wisconsinpublicservice.com.

Find a warm place to stay

If the power is expected to be out for an extended period of time, Wisconsin Public Service spokesman Matt Cullen recommends people find a warm place to bunker down, whether that's with family or friends who live close by or at a warming shelter.

Many municipalities have warming shelters set up so residents can get away from the cold. Some cities, like Merrill in Lincoln County, set up an emergency warming center after the power went out Tuesday night.

Nearly 2,500 residents in Merrill were without power from about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday until 3 a.m. Wednesday after the "elements and cold weather" caused a power line to fall and damaged a power line, Cullen said.

Police contacted the school superintendent and opened a warming shelter at the high school, Merrill Police Capt. Gregory Hartwig said. The local Kwik Trip even sent over some coffee and snacks.

Officials in Langlade County also set up an emergency warming shelter at the high school there after the power was out for around four hours Tuesday night, according to the Langlade County Sheriff's Office.

To find a warming center in your area, dial 211 or contact local law enforcement agencies.

Have an emergency kit ready

It's important to be prepared before an emergency happens. Jahns recommends people put together emergency kits and keep them in their homes.

Items such as flash lights, extra batteries, blankets, portable cellphone chargers, first aid kits, drinking water and canned food are all good things to keep in an emergency kit, Jahns said.

In the case of extreme cold, pack on extra layers and keep the blinds, drapes and doors closed to prevent heat from escaping. You can use a generator to power the furnace or use a properly vented fire place or wood-burning stove. Do not use outdoor grills, kerosene heaters or camping heaters, and if it gets too cold, make your way to the nearest warming shelter.

More safety tips

For more information on how to stay warm and safe during a power outage, visit the We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service websites.