Monsoon storm safety
The monsoon season typically begins in early July. The storms' heavy rains, high winds
and lightning can snap utility poles and power lines.
Because the weather in metropolitan Phoenix is so stable for much of the year, summer
storms can take people by surprise. Below is a list of safety tips and suggestions to
help you and your family deal with the wind, rain and lightning that can result from
a storm.
Here are some links to additional helpful information:
What to do during an outage
You might want to print this page and keep it handy near a flashlight during storm season so you'll know what to
do if the power goes out.
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If the power goes off, stay calm. Refer to your preparedness plan. Turn on your
battery-powered radio or TV for news updates about the situation.
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Refer to your preparedness plan, if you have one. If not, review this list of
suggestions on how to prepare for a power outage.
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In metropolitan Phoenix, the three local primary Emergency Alert System
(EAS) radio stations are KFYI AM 550, KTAR AM 620 and KJZZ FM 91.5. Most
stations participate in the EAS, and should repeat messages originated
on the three primary stations or by the National Weather Service.
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Reset circuit breakers to see if the problem is a short-circuit in your home's electrical
system. If other homes in your neighborhood are dark, the problem is likely a power
outage. Check for "blown" fuses or make sure your circuit breakers are in the "on"
position. Also check the main breaker; turn off and then turn on to reset the main
breaker.
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Avoid opening entry doors, to keep cool air inside and warmer air outside.
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Confine or secure your pets.
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Leave one light on to indicate when the power has been restored. When
power is restored, wait a few minutes before turning on lights and appliances --
turn them on one at a time.
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Report a power outage to SRP's automated Residential Customer Services line
by calling (602) 236-8888. Be sure to enter your account number (located on
the top left portion of your bill) so that we'll know where the power outage is.
Your SRP account number: ____________________ (print and fill in number now so
you won't have to search for it in the dark)
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Turn off all lights and major appliances, including your computer, air conditioner,
television, VCR and dishwasher. This will help SRP restore power more quickly
while protecting your equipment from voltage fluctuations and circuit overloads
when power returns. Surge protectors for your computer and electronic equipment
provide extra protection.
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Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed.
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If an extended outage: First, use perishable food and foods from the refrigerator.
Then use the foods from the freezer. In a well-filled, well-insulated freezer, foods
usually still will have ice crystals in their centers (meaning they are safe to eat)
for at least three days. Finally, begin to use non-perishable foods.
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Check on your neighbors, especially elderly and/or disabled persons.
Electricity from lightning can travel through the wires in your home and
damage important home office equipment. If you experience a complete
or partial power outage during a monsoon, take the following steps:
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During a storm, it's best to unplug any equipment that does not need to be
on, including telephones and cable television cables, but especially the air conditioner or heat pump, computers and copy machines. This will protect the machines from voltage fluctuations and
help avoid circuit overloads when the power returns.
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Make sure your office equipment is properly grounded. Power disturbances
can affect computers and other microprocessor-based equipment that
depend on a constant voltage supply. An improper ground can cause
your equipment to malfunction or fail.
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Be sure to wait at least one minute after the power has been restored
before turning the equipment back on.