Spring brings us warmer temperatures, the first flowers, and more daylight. But it also brings storms – like the historic windstorm we saw on March 3 -- that can be severe, causing damage and power outages. We appreciate the patience our customers had with us as our crews – which were joined by more than 1,600 additional resources from neighboring states – worked around the clock to protect the public, assess and repair damage, and safely restore power to the communities we’re proud to serve.
This storm, which hit Kentucky with hurricane-force winds, impacted more than 400,000 customers, downed more than 3,500 power lines and broke more than 800 utility poles. This is the third-most significant weather event in 20 years in terms of system impact and the number of customers affected, ranking behind the 2009 ice storm and 2008 windstorm.
Additionally, over the years, we have significantly strengthened our electrical system, but sometimes Mother Nature gets the upper hand. For that reason, it’s always a good idea to be prepared for severe weather.
One of the first things to do is prepare an emergency kit, including:
- Water and nonperishable food.
- Flashlights.
- A battery-operated weather radio. We recommend a NOAA Weather Radio, which allows you to get weather warnings.
- Extra batteries.
- A first-aid kit (including any prescription medications).
- Battery-powered chargers for cellphones.
Also, keep these tips in mind for when the weather gets stormy:
- Stay away from downed power lines. If you see one, call us immediately.
- Never take a bath or shower during a storm.
- Never use a corded phone during a storm.
- If power goes out, turn off appliances but leave a light switch on so you’ll know when power is restored.
- Have a place to go in case there is an extended power outage.
- Keep at least half a tank of gas in your car.
For the most up-to-date outage information or to report a power outage, download our free mobile app at lge-ku.com/app. On the app, you can log in to your account or use the Guest Access feature to see our outage map and report or track a power outage. You can also text OUTAGE to 4LGEKU (454358) and text STATUS to get updates.
