Be prepared for the 2003 Hurricane Season

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Before a storm threatens:

· Have an emergency plan if someone in your household relies on electrically powered life support
· Be sure to keep emergency supplies such as flashlights & extra batteries in a place that’s easily accessible in the dark. Remember to have a non-electric can opener and a back-up battery for your cordless phone.
· When storing water, be sure to use clean containers.
· Locate the main electric fuse box, water service main and natural gas main. Learn how and when to turn these utilities off. Do this if you should have to evacuate your home.

• After the storm passes:
  · PWC is committed to restoring services as soon as possible and will begin restoration as soon as conditions are safe.
  · In the event of damage and outages related to the storm, tune in to your local media outlets for restoration information. PWC will release information related to restoration as soon as damage has been accessed.
  · Never touch downed power lines. Report damaged or downed lines, as well as trees & limbs on lines immediately to PWC.
  · If you water pipes are damaged, notify PWC (or your water company) and avoid using water.
  · If you suspect your sewer lines are damaged, avoid using toilets and call a plumber.
  · Remember if there is damage to your weather head or meter base, the homeowner is responsible for its repair before PWC can restore power.
  
  Using Portable Generators
  If using a portable generator during power outages, please be aware of the potential dangers if used improperly. Be cautious! Make absolutely certain you follow the directions.
  
  Use drop cords to connect appliances to portable generators. Do not connect generators to the directly to the electrical system of your home. The electricity you generate can back feed through the electrical system causing deadly voltages to PWC utility lineman or the general public.
  
  Be sure to operate in a dry, open, well-ventilated area and make sure your hands are dry.
  
  Never exceed the rated capacity of your generator; overloading can cause serious damage to the generator or appliances.
  
  Be sure your generator is properly grounded, if not a generator may become electrically charged and cause electrocution.
  

To report an outage, call PWC Emergency Services 678-7400.

For more information, logon to the National Weather Service's Hurricane Center.

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How are Hurricanes Named?

Hurricanes names are chosen from a list selected by the World Meteorological Organization. The Atlantic is assigned six lists of names, with one list used each year. Every sixth year, the first list begins again. Each name on the list starts with a different letter, for example, the name of the very first hurricane of the season starts with the letter A, the next starts with the letter B, and so on. The letters "Q", "U", "X", "Y" and "Z", however, are not used.

Often when an unusually destructive hurricane hits, that hurricane's name is retired and never used again. Since 1954, forty names have been retired. In 1996 Hurricane Luis was retired. Is your name among the currently used or retired hurricane names?

2003 Hurricane Names
Ana	Kate
Bill	Larry
Claudette	Mindy
Danny	Nicholas
Erika	Odette
Fabian	Peter
Grace	Rose
Henri	Sam
Isabel	Teresa
Juan	Victor
Wanda

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