How you can help your cooperative

Weather-related disasters are big attention getters. It’s not uncommon in the wake of a big storm to find curious folks with cameras taking pictures to post on social media or community-minded folks standing by with offers of assistance. Not all of that, however, is helpful.

After a storm, your local electric cooperative is committed to restoring your power as quickly and as safely as possible. For those who want to help in that effort, here are some do’s and don’ts to keep everyone—the public and the repair crews—safe.

Do:

  • Be patient, and let your electric cooperative do its job. Co-ops have the plans, preparation, training and professional lineworkers to deal with the impact of a storm. “They’ve got it down to a finely tuned science,” says Peggy Dantzler, vice president of loss control and training for The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. To learn more about how power restoration happens, see Restoring your power after a storm.
  • Stay well away from sites where repair crews are working. The work may be fascinating, but it’s also hazardous. There is always a danger of electrocution or being struck by debris. If work crews must stop what they are doing to move onlookers out of the way, that slows down the process of restoring power.
  • In the current season of COVID-19, repair crews must also take social distancing precautions against transmission of the coronavirus. “The closest safe place to watch the crews work is your front porch,” Dantzler says.
  • Report any downed power lines, broken poles or power outages as soon as you can. This helps your co-op assess damage and provide the right equipment and repair crews where they are needed. See Stay away from downed power lines.
  • Use your co-op’s website and social media, as well as local news media reports, for the latest updates on power outages. You can ask questions on co-op Facebook and Twitter sites; co-op employees will monitor these sites to respond to consumer concerns. See Reporting your power outage.
  • Provide your most up-to-date contact information to your local co-op. An old landline phone number that is no longer in service but remains on your account will make it harder for the co-op to contact you, if need be, about restoring electric service.
  • Make sure any household generator has been installed safely—according to manufacturer’s instructions, and not connected to your household wiring. Power from a generator can “backfeed” current into power lines, risking electrocution for lineworkers trying to make repairs after a storm. See Generator safety.
  • Unlock gates on fences that may block access to the power lines that need repair.
  • Provide helpful information, when needed, to direct repair crews to the easiest or shortest access routes to power lines on or near your property. There may be lineworkers from other electric co-ops who are in the area to assist with power restoration but are not familiar with the roads and terrain.
  • Communicate with your local co-op if your church or community organization wants to help provide meals, shelter or laundry services to lineworkers during the emergency. After Hurricane Matthew in October 2016, some organizations coordinated these services with local co-op employees, but find out whether the need exists before springing into action.
  • Say “thank you” when the work is done. Repair crews work long hours under harsh conditions and with minimal sleep for days on end, just to restore power to strangers. Many travel from out of state to help get the repairs done faster. They sleep in tents, trailers or hotels without power. Let your co-op’s line crews know how much you respect their service with a message of thanks using #ThankaLineman on social media.

Don’t:

  • Don’t interfere with repair crews while they work. That includes asking them to explain what they are doing or asking when the power will be restored at your house. Every minute spent answering those questions is a minute taken away from restoring service. Instead, visit your local co-op’s website or social media sites for the latest updates on power restoration in your area. See Reporting your power outage for contact information.
  • Don’t complain to working repair crews that your power is still out. If you have reported your outage to your co-op, crews are working as efficiently as possible toward restoring power, step by step, in your area. See Restoring your power after a storm.
  • Don’t attempt to assist by cutting fallen trees away from power lines. Always assume a power line is energized and dangerous, even when power is out in that area. Anything touching the line can conduct electricity—including trees, human bodies, vehicles, and the ground—and pose a danger of electrocution. See Stay away from downed power lines.
  • Don’t bring homemade foods out to working line crews. Many lineworkers are cautious about accepting food from unknown sources, so they won’t eat home-cooked foods from strangers, no matter how well intended. They would also prefer the public to stay a safe distance from where they are working. Prepackaged snacks donated through your local co-op may be welcome. Check with the co-op’s website or social media sites to learn whether food and water donations are needed.

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Additional resources

Four steps to restoring power – This video, produced by the National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, explains how crews work to repair damage after a major storm. 

Geared for safety – When working in the adverse conditions following a storm, your co-op’s line crews rely on their gear to keep them safe. Learn more about their equipment in this short video.