Storm Safety

Before the Storm

Once you have received notice that the island is under storm watch, finalize these last minute preparations.

Tips to prepare for an electricity outage:

  • Charge all portable appliances such as cell phones, laptops, rechargeable batteries, etc.
  • Set your refrigerator to coldest setting several hours before the storm is expected.
  • Gather any flashlights and check spare batteries.
  • Prepare by equipping your house with automatic power failure safety lighting so that it does not go dark when the power goes out. That gives you time to locate your flashlights and other items.
  • If someone in your home is dependent on electric powered, life sustaining medical equipment, review your family emergency plan for back-up power or make arrangements to relocate.
  • Turn off all swimming pool pumps and filters, and wrap them in waterproof materials.
  • Use UPS or surge protectors on your appliances to protect them against surges and voltage fluctuations.

Tips to prepare for an water outage:

  • Fill pitchers with drinking water.
  • Fill your sink for washing and rinsing dishes. Have an extra pitcher handy for refreshing the water when needed.
  • Fill a bucket with water for near your toilet to ensure it can flush properly.
  • Fill drinking water bowls for your pets.

During the Storm

During the storm GEBE will do its best to maintain electricity and water supply. However, GEBE will be forced turn off electricity and water when it is no longer safe to operate the machinery or electrify the power lines.

  • Stay inside.
  • Listen for updates.
  • Report any downed lines in your area.
  • Do not run your generator during the storm.

When the electricity goes off:

  • Unplug any sensitive electronics to avoid damage.
  • Turn off all lights and electrical equipment. Leave on only one light or radio to alert you when the power has been restored.
  • Try to minimize the time your fridge and freezer are open to keep the cool air in.
  • Be careful if you decide to use candles. Do not leave them unattended.

When the water goes off:

  • Turn off your water meter, in the event that a water pipe is damaged during the storm.
  • Ensure you turn off all taps and pipes to avoid leaks once water is restored.
  • Use hand sanitizer or hand wipes to clean your hands when no running water is available.
  • Don’t forget to refresh drinking water for your pets.

After the Storm

Once the storm has passed, everyone is anxious to assess the damage and get everything back to normal as quickly as possible. A strong storm or hurricane can cause significant damage, resulting in widespread power outages. GEBE has the best storm restoration teams with specially trained technicians who will be working 24-hours a day after a storm is to repair damage and restore power. However, we ask that you be patient while we assess the damage to avoid restoring power to areas that are not safe.

Our crews are specially trained technicians whose primary job after a storm is to repair damage and restore power. Priorities are not established by where your home is located geographically, your payment history or how often you call. Crews receive their instructions based upon repairs that will restore power to the largest number of customers first.

  • First we repair damage to the GEBE facilities that produce power and the lines that carry it from our plant.
  • Then we focus on restoring power to the customers who provide essential services to the community, such as hospitals, police and fire station.
  • Next, we repair damage that will return power to the greatest number of customers in the least amount of time.
  • Once major repairs have been made, we begin working to restore small groups and individual customers.

Keep in Mind: For the safety of our repair crews, GEBE will halt efforts to restore electric service when winds reach 35 miles per hour.

Be patient

If you lose power following a major storm, please be patient. NV GEBE will first assess the damage to the power plant and the distribution network before restoring electricity and water to ensure this can be done safely. You can rest assured that NV GEBE will be working around the clock to restore your water and electricity as soon as possible.

Media reports

GEBE provides reports to the Disaster Management Committee as part of the official disaster management protocol. Service restoration updates will also be provided to local radio, TV, online newspapers, on our  Facebook page to keep you informed of our progress.

Report downed lines

Phone 1 721 546 1100 / 546 1160 / 542 2213/ 588 3117  to report downed power, sparking power lines or obviously unsafe electrical equipment. And please warn your friends and neighbors to avoid those areas.

Our storm damage assessment will identify the areas that are the most heavily damaged. If you live in those areas, you do not need to call us immediately to report that your service is out. This will leave our phone lines open for emergency calls.

Be Safe

  • Do not touch any low-hanging wires or wires that may be lying on the ground.
  • Wear rubber boots or shoes with rubber soles, especially if you have to walk through water.
  • Do not leave children unsupervised in the yard, and do not let them play on the street.
  • Report any dangerous situations to GEBE immediately or to the proper local authorities, e.g. Fire Department for fire hazards and Public Works Department for impassable roads, etc.)
  • If involved in clean-up of your area, wear thick gloves and rubber boots at all times.

Is your house safe to receive electricity?

Although your house may look safe, it may not be safe to receive power. Here are a few simple steps to help avoid injury to yourself and your family, or further damage to your home:

  • If your roof or windows have leaked there may be water in your walls and ceiling in contact with electrical wiring. You may need a licensed electrical contractor to survey your house. Turn off your circuit breakers, remove fuses, unplug appliances and turn off all wall switches.
  • If you’re served by overhead power lines and you see damage from the house connection to the power line or the box surrounding the meter. You may need to call an electrical contractor.
  • If you are served by underground wires. Look at the meter box and determine if it is damaged. You may need to report to GEBE.

When the electricity supply is restored to your area:

  • When power is restored to your area, be sure to plug in your appliances one by one to avoid possible damage through surges.
  • Until the electricity supply is stable, surges and voltage fluctuations are possible. Use only appliances on surge protectors.
  • Use a surge protector when recharging laptops, mobile phones, batteries, etc.
  • Follow GEBE for updates on possible load shedding, repairs planned for your area that may affect your electricity supply.

Water Damage

If you have experienced any water damage inside your home due to rain or flooding, take extra precautions when restoring electricity.

  • Once inside, disconnect all electrical appliances that are still plugged in. Use caution. Do not stand in water when operating switches, plugging in or unplugging electrical cords.
  • When resetting circuit breakers, wear dry, rubber soled shoes and stand on something dry and non-conductive, such as a dry piece of wood or wooden furniture. Use only 1 hand, and reset the breaker switches with a dry wooden tool. Do not make contact with the metal breaker box or other grounded objects in the area. If the breakers will not reset or they continue to trip, call a licensed electrician. This condition might indicate a short circuit in your electrical system.
  • If you had no problem resetting the circuit breakers then you will still want to check your appliances for water damage and make sure all cords are dry before you attempt to re-plug electrical appliances into wall sockets.
  • If after plugging in an appliance, the breakers trip (or fuse blows) or you see smoke or smell a burning odor, then shut off power at the circuit breaker and have the appliance checked by a qualified appliance serviceman.

Be very careful around all electrical wires and equipment. If you have any doubts your home electrical system or are unsure of how to proceed, call a professional licensed electrician.

When the water supply is restored to your area:

  • Let the tap run for a short time to even the pressure and to flush any residue in the pipes.
  • Until the water supply is stable, water will be rationed, so please use water sparingly. Maintain your backup water supply until everything is back to normal.

Once water has been fully restored to all areas and water production is stable, use any remaining spare water first.

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