Safety tips for winter storm outages in New Mexico
I’LL BE BACK TO TIME IT ALL OUT FOR YOU IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. ALL RIGHT, OLGA AND PNM WARNING ABOUT POSSIBLE POWER OUTAGES DURING THIS STORM AND WANTS TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW HOW TO PLAN FOR THEM. THEY SAY YOU SHOULD START BY PUTTING TOGETHER AN OUTAGE KIT. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE NONPERISHABLE FOOD, FLASHLIGHTS, BATTERIES, AND ANY MEDICATIONS YOU MIGHT NEED. IF SOMEONE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD RELIES ON ELECTRIC MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR PNM LIFEWATCH TO HELP KEEP EVERYTHING UP AND RUNNING. CAREGIVERS WILL BE NOTIFIED IN THE EVENT OF AN OUTAGE, AND CITIES AROUND THE STATE ARE PREPARING FOR THE INCOMING STORM. WE CONTINUE OUR TEAM COVERAGE NOW WITH SASHA LENNINGER RON. NEW MEXICO IS PREPARING FOR THIS UPCOMING WINTER STORM, AND OFFICIALS WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ALL PREPARED JUST IN CASE YOU GET STUCK AT HOME OR ON THE ROADS IN SANTA FE COUNTY. THEY TELL US THERE IS NO NEED TO PANIC OR PANIC BUY AT ALL. THIS ISN’T OUR FIRST SNOWSTORM AND IT WON’T BE OUR LAST ONE. THEY DO SAY THEY’LL HAVE EXTRA BLANKETS AND A JACKET HANDY, A FLASHLIGHT WITH EXTRA BATTERIES, AS WELL AS SOME EXTRA FOOD AND WATER. OFFICIALS ALSO REMINDING US TO MAKE SURE WE DON’T LET OUR PIPES FREEZE. IF YOU KNOW, DURING THE NIGHTTIME HOURS AND WHILE YOU’RE NOT AT HOME, DRIP YOUR INDOOR WATER FAUCETS TO KEEP THE LINES FROM FREEZING. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE NONPERISHABLE FOOD FOR A MINIMUM OF 72 HOURS AND FRESH DRINKING WATER. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE FLASHLIGHTS WITH SPARE BATTERIES. IF YOU’RE GOING TO USE CANDLES, MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT LEFT UNATTENDED. HE DOES SAY DURING WINTER STORMS, THE COUNTY DOES TEND TO SEE AN UPTICK IN HOUSE FIRES. SO THE CANDLES, THE SPACE HEATERS, THOSE NEED TO STAY AWAY FROM CURTAINS AND BLANKETS AND OTHER ITEMS THAT CAN EASILY CATCH ON FIRE. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, EXPERTS SAY STAY OFF THE ROADS IF YOU DON’T
A significant winter storm pattern is expected to hit New Mexico late Friday into Saturday, Jan. 24.The extreme weather could cause damage and impact the power of customers using The Public Service Company of New Mexico, also known as PNM. The company provided several safety tips ahead of Friday.How PNM customers can prepareBuild and restock emergency kits, including food, water, flashlight and batteries, cash and first-aid supplies. Necessary medication may also need to be included in your kit.Update your contact information to ensure you get important power outage notifications amid severe weather.Plan for medical needs, especially if you or your family member uses medical equipment requiring electricity.PNM also recommends people sign up for LifeWatch, which is a service for customers who rely on medical equipment using electricity.PNM also described how its crews are already preparing for the expected winter weather.Preparation efforts ahead of expected winter stormCrews across area of service are on stand-by and ready to respond as conditions change.Additional crews are prepared to move where they are needed.PNM teams will be monitoring weather conditions and using it to coordinate efforts on restoring power safely and efficiently.The service company also said the public should never come into contact with a downed power line. It should be assumed downed lines are energized and 911 and PNM should be contacted immediately.Stay updated on the latest severe weather updates with the KOAT app. You can download it here.
A significant winter storm pattern is expected to hit New Mexico late Friday into Saturday, Jan. 24.
The extreme weather could cause damage and impact the power of customers using The Public Service Company of New Mexico, also known as PNM. The company provided several safety tips ahead of Friday.
How PNM customers can prepare
- Build and restock emergency kits, including food, water, flashlight and batteries, cash and first-aid supplies. Necessary medication may also need to be included in your kit.
- Update your contact information to ensure you get important power outage notifications amid severe weather.
- Plan for medical needs, especially if you or your family member uses medical equipment requiring electricity.
- PNM also recommends people sign up for LifeWatch, which is a service for customers who rely on medical equipment using electricity.
PNM also described how its crews are already preparing for the expected winter weather.
- Crews across area of service are on stand-by and ready to respond as conditions change.
- Additional crews are prepared to move where they are needed.
- PNM teams will be monitoring weather conditions and using it to coordinate efforts on restoring power safely and efficiently.
The service company also said the public should never come into contact with a downed power line. It should be assumed downed lines are energized and 911 and PNM should be contacted immediately.
Stay updated on the latest severe weather updates with the KOAT app. You can download it here.
