Fredericksburg, Va. – Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) is closely monitoring the storm track for Hurricane Ian, as it gets closer to landfall in the Southeast. The Cooperative’s thoughts are with the residents of Cuba, Florida and other areas facing significant impacts this week.

For Virginia, the latest forecasts show the potential for heavy rain and wind, although the threat for severe weather in the Commonwealth remains uncertain. Even so, REC’s line workers, tree crews and related contractors are preparing for the potential impacts. They stand ready to respond to any storm-related outages to make repairs and restore service as needed.

As we mark National Preparedness Month, REC reminds members that the best time to prepare for a power outage is before it occurs.

• In the event that the storm forecast changes, make sure you charge critical electronics such as cell phones, and make sure your family has a flashlight with batteries.
• Even if the storm misses our area, make sure you bookmark REC’s website to report an outage or to find the latest on restoration efforts. You also can sign up to receive Outage Text Alerts: myrec.coop/outagecenter.
• Remember that you can use your smart phone to report power outages at myrec.coop/out. You also can report an outage in MyREC SmartHub.

For a complete list of emergency items REC recommends, please visit myrec.coop/stormprep

REC also reminds members of the following safety tips. These apply to major storm situations and anytime:

• If you see a downed power line, always assume it is energized and dangerous. Stay away from the line and anything that might be in contact with it.
• Call 911 and contact REC at 800-552-3904 to report downed power lines.
• If your backup power plan includes using a generator, it is critical to follow all safety recommendations.

REC provides electric service to over 172,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, Va., the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 18,000 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.