The following message is from MIchael Neely, General Manager of Yazoo Valley Electric Power Association
Over the past few days, we have shared some electrical safety advice with you, our members, but as the forecast is shaping up, it appears that a severe winter weather event is inevitable. As we at Yazoo Valley prepare for this severe weather, I want to take a few minutes and be real and honest with you. My intention is not to scare anyone, but to help you be prepared and remain safe when conditions become severe.
In a storm of the forecasted magnitude, there are several uncontrollable things that can occur. Yazoo Valley receives transmission service at its substations through high voltage transmission lines that traverse long distances across the country. If transmission lines are down, we will be unable to restore power to our members until the transmission sources that supply our system are operational again. If a transmission outage occurs prior to an actual distribution outage, a particularly dangerous situation can occur when transmission service is restored.
It is crucial to understand that any downed line may suddenly become energized when transmission power is restored. Just because a power line is lying on the ground does not mean it is dead. It may have been de-energized because transmission power was off, but when transmission power is restored, the line may suddenly become energized and dangerous. Please avoid driving over downed power lines, walking near them, or attempting to help by cutting limbs from lines, etc.
The instinct to help is understandable, but helping in this way is extremely risky. Please report any downed lines to us so our trained personnel can respond as quickly as possible to ensure public safety.
I also want to talk briefly about expectations for outages. It is impossible to predict exactly what damage this storm will bring. Anything and everything should be expected. Yazoo Valley has spent days preparing to restore power if outages occur, but please understand that restoration will take time if there is extensive ice damage.
This work is slow, dangerous, and challenging as crews navigate icy roads and attempt to safely energize ice covered lines. Access in conditions like this may prevent crews from reaching your area. City, County, and State workers will be removing trees from roadways, and we can only access those areas with equipment once the roads are clear and safe to travel.
Under normal circumstances when we have widespread outages, we can receive mutual aid assistance from electric cooperatives in Mississippi and surrounding states to help restore power quickly. However, if this storm is as widespread as forecasted, most electric cooperatives will be focused on restoring their own electric systems. Contract utility crews are scarce as well. Because of these factors and unique circumstances, some outages may last a week or longer, depending on severity and access.
Although we had hoped this would not happen, it now appears likely that this storm could have a major impact. While our after-hours dispatch center, Cooperative Response Center, is well equipped to handle incoming calls, call volume and response times may be affected during a widespread event of this scale.
Be aware of this. If you are unable to get through, please keep calling. Reporting your outage is the most helpful thing you can do for us in an event like this because it allows us to understand where outages are occurring. We do not currently respond to outages reported across social media or the website. The main reason for this is because it is not reliable and internet access may become limited under certain conditions.
The purpose of this message is not to frighten anyone, but to encourage preparation and awareness. Please avoid traveling if possible, and above all, stay far away from anything that appears to be a downed power line. The safety of our members, our employees, and the public is always our top priority.
We will provide daily updates via social media and online to keep you informed. One thing is certain; we will get your lights back on. We ask for your patience and your prayers as we do so.
God Bess You,
Michael Neely
