(Gahanna) -- American Electric meteorologists are closely monitoring the potential for severe winter weather across our service territory this week with the possibility of extremely cold temperatures, snow and winds over 50 mph. Long-duration, widespread strong wind gusts could cause power outages.
We know you depend on us to keep the power on, especially during the extreme cold and when many are celebrating the holidays. The exact path and impact of the storm aren't clear yet, but our crews are ready to respond and restore any power outages as quickly and safely as possible. However, road conditions, lingering wind gusts and extreme wind chills could delay some restoration efforts.
We'll continue to update you as information becomes available. In the meantime, we encourage customers to be prepared should outages occur. Check out the below resources for additional information on how to keep you and your loved ones safe.
Make a plan for what you'll do if there's a power outage. Check with those who are elderly, have young children or have medical conditions to ensure they have a plan — and don't forget your pets.
Charge devices such as phones, laptops, portable chargers and other electronics that will help you stay connected.
Prepare an emergency kit. At a minimum, include non-perishable food, water, a flashlight, batteries, a battery-powered radio, a first-aid kit and necessary medications.
Make sure you're signed up to receive outage alerts and updates. You can also track and report outages with the AEP Ohio mobile app.
Remember, all downed lines are dangerous - they carry an electric current that can cause serious or even fatal injuries. Stay away to stay alive. If you encounter a fallen wire, keep yourself and others away from it and anything it may be touching, and call 911 and AEP Ohio immediately.
Never operate lanterns, heaters, fuel-fired stoves or burn charcoal without proper ventilation to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning and fires.
If you use a portable or RV generator, do not plug the generator into your circuit box. Find important details here.
Extremely cold temperatures can cause your energy usage and electric bill to go up. Find helpful tips and information about winter bills at AEPOhio.com/WinterBill.
Also, power companies allow you to monitor power outages online: