• Call 252-467-4800 to report a power outage or downed power line.

• Keep abreast of emergency situations or critical community alerts by signing up for Code Red. Visit https://public.coderedweb.com/cne/en-US/A65D72D508BA to sign up.

• Watch for city information on C.I.T.Y. TV-19, Facebook, and Twitter.

• Wear multiple layers of clothing to stay warm.

• Stay aware of winter weather.

• Be extremely careful if you must shovel snow. Take frequent breaks, and stay hydrated.

• Watch for hypothermia and frostbite. Hypothermia symptoms include confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. Frostbite symptoms include numbness, flushed gray, white, blue or yellow skin discoloration, numbness or waxy feeling skin.

• Check on your neighbors, especially elderly people living alone, people with disabilities and children.

• Bring pets indoors if possible. If they can’t come inside, make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.

• Avoid driving on snow-covered roads if possible.

• If driving in snow, drive slowly. Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry, and take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.

• Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.

• Make certain all tires are properly inflated.

• Keep the gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up.

• If possible, avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy and snowy weather.

• Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (wet, ice sand).

• Remember to buckle the seat belt every time you get into your vehicle.

• If you become snow-bound, stay with your vehicle. It provides temporary shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to locate you. Don’t try to walk in a severe storm.

• Have blankets in the vehicle to keep occupants warm. Remember, floor mats and newspaper can also be used as insulators.

• Stay home. If you really don’t have to go out, don’t. Even if you can drive well in the snow, not everyone else can.

• Turn off the stove and any heat-producing appliances.

• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed.

• Turn off all electronic appliances except for one light inside and a porch light. (The porch light will let crews know when the power is restored).

• Have flashlights and battery-powered lighting on hand with fresh batteries. Never use candles.

• Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.

• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. (Move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals out of the reach of children).

• While you are away, set the thermostat to 50°F or warmer.

• Insulate pipes in your home’s crawl spaces and attic.

• Disconnect garden hoses from outside faucets.

• Let water trickle from the hot and cold spigot on the faucet. Running water through the pipe, even at a trickle, helps prevent pipes from freezing.

• Do not attach a generator directly to the electrical system of a house unless the generator has a properly installed transfer switch.

• Do not use a generator indoors, near a window or door, or in an attached garage, even with the door open.

• Inspect the portable generator for damaged or loose fuel lines.

• Only use generators outdoors in well-ventilated areas away from doors, windows, vents and other openings. This will prevent exhaust fumes from entering the home.

• Install carbon monoxide (CO) detectors (either battery-operated or plug-in with battery backup) inside the home. Test the alarms at least once a month.

• If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door.

• Prevent backfeed and electric shock by only using a generator wired by a qualified electrician.

• Turn off generators and let them cool down before refueling. Never refuel a generator while it is hot.

• Store fuel for the generator in a container that is intended for the purpose outside of living areas.

• Plug only one heat producing appliance (such as a space heater) into an electrical outlet at a time.

• Space heaters should only be used to heat a small space, not the entire home as they can result in higher electric bills.

• When using space heaters, never cover them or place them on top of furniture or near water.

• Keep anything that can burn, such as drapes, furniture, bedding, and walls at least three feet away from any heat source, i.e. fireplaces, space heaters, wood stoves, radiators, etc.

• Place the heater on a solid, flat surface.

• Make sure the heater has an auto shut-off that turns the heater off if it tips over.

• Keep space heaters out of the way of foot traffic.

• Never block an exit.

• Do not use extension cords with space heaters.

• Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.

• Use ceiling fans to distribute heat around the room. Most fans have a switch that allows you to reverse the motor and operate the ceiling fan in the opposite direction. This produces a gentle updraft, which forces warm air near the ceiling down into the living space.

• Set the thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit or the lowest comfortable setting.

• Change air filters monthly.

• Close the damper when the fireplace is not in use.

• Set the water heater thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit for maximum efficiency and comfort.

• Wash clothes in cold water, and wash and dry only full loads. Clean the lint screen in the dryer after every load.

• Use a power strip as a central “turn off” point for electronics, video games and computers when not in use.

• Do not use your oven to heat your home.

• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.

• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room.

• Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation

• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food

• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both

• Flashlight and extra batteries

• First aid kit

• Manual can opener for food

• Local maps

• Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

Before an outage occurs, it’s important to make sure the city has your most current telephone number on file so the outage can be accurately recorded. Please call (252) 467-4800 to update your number.

If you do lose power, first check your neighborhood. If you are the only one without power, check your fuse box for tripped circuit breakers or blown fuses. If that’s not the problem, call (252) 467-4800 to report a power outage, downed power lines or any electric, gas, water or sewer emergencies.

The city uses an automated system to handle customer calls as efficiently as possible. Customers who get an automated response when calling are encouraged to use it, as it is designed to route their calls to the right destination. If you have specific information regarding damage to wires, transformers or poles, the city asks that you stay on the line to speak with a representative to provide that information.

If an extended power outage occurs, restoring power at once can cause an overload on the system, and power may be lost again. During a power outage, customers should disconnect any appliances or electronics plugged into a power source. Customers should leave one light on as a way to detect when power is restored. This will let repair crews know what services have been restored. Customers are encouraged to gradually reconnect appliances once power has been restored.

Customers may check restoration progress on Facebook by following us at facebook.com/RockyMountPublicUtilities. However, please DO NOT report outages through the city’s social media pages.

Downed power lines may appear dead but should always be considered energized. STAY AWAY FROM ALL DOWNED POWER LINES. Do not approach or drive over a downed line. If a power line falls on a vehicle, passengers should stay in the vehicle until help arrives. If a limb has fallen on a line, do not attempt to remove it. Additionally, parents are urged to check for downed lines in areas where their children might play. Please call (252) 467-4800 to report a downed power line, or tree limbs that have fallen on a line, and the nearest cross street to the line.

Please slow down and be alert when driving past a city of Rocky Mount roadwork jobsite. Driving too fast can endanger employees and hamper their ability to perform important work. Employees use work area protection (i.e. traffic cones, utility work signs and flaggers) to allow them to do their jobs safely. Follow safe driving techniques to prevent fender-benders or more serious collisions that could delay our service technicians as they respond to customer calls or emergencies.

Individuals who rely on electricity to operate life-sustaining electronic equipment, such as a respirator or dialysis machine, should pre-register with the city of Rocky Mount. They should also inform their rescue squads and fire departments of their needs, in case of emergency. Customers with life-sustaining equipment should also have emergency back-up equipment on hand, since immediate restoration cannot be guaranteed.

“TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN.”

If flooding occurs, stay away from low spots, valleys or ditches and get to higher ground as soon as possible. Never drive through a flooded area, and remember not to walk through a flooded area. It only takes six inches of moving water to knock a person down.