Fredericksburg, Va. - Just as Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) recovered from outages related to the recent ice storm, more winter weather is in the forecast beginning as early 1 a.m. Thursday morning and continuing through Friday.

REC is prepared to respond again to any power outages resulting from the pending Winter Storm Viola. The Cooperative has proactively reached out to contractors and mutual-aid crews and at this time 150 workers will join the REC workforce in an effort to respond swiftly across the service territory.

REC urges member-owners to prepare now. 

“Do not be caught off-guard,” said Casey Hollins, Director of Communications and Public Relations. “This storm poses a very real threat of additional and possibly prolonged power outages, including the areas where power was restored over the past few days. The time to prepare is now.”

Make sure you have flashlights and fresh batteries. Gather extra blankets and additional layers of clothing in case they are needed, and charge all electronics such as cell phones. Ensure you have a back-up heat source or have a plan in the event that extended outages occur. A complete list of storm preparedness items you should gather can be found at myrec.coop/stormprep.

“If you have a wood-burning fireplace or woodstove, make sure you are well-stocked with wood. Also, if you have a well pump, remember to fill your bathtubs with water before the storm begins,” Hollins said.

“At REC, please know that we are always looking out for you. During every power outage and every weather event, we will work as quickly as possible to provide updates on social media, on our website and through emails to you. REC’s crews take pride in working as hard as possible and as long as they safely can to get your power restored.”

Should you lose power, always report your outage at myrec.coop/out or in MyREC SmartHub. Outages can also be reported by calling 1-800-552-3904. If someone in your home requires electricity for a serious medical condition, now is the time to identify an alternate location with power that you can rely on during an outage.

REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, Va., the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.