Take steps to build an outage kit and stay informed
By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Friday, September 3rd, 2021 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
BAKER CITY – (Release from Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative) To recognize National Preparedness Month, Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative is encouraging its member-owners to be prepared year-round for power outages. While ongoing updates to the power grid and electrical equipment continue to enhance reliability, outages may still occur, especially in months of extreme weather conditions. OTEC is raising awareness about resources that are available to members that can help make a power outage easier to manage.
Basic emergency supplies
Members should prepare essentials including:
- A two-week supply of shelf-stable food and water for their household and pets, including livestock.
- Necessary medications and a backup plan for medical devices that need electricity to operate.
- An emergency kit with flashlights, batteries, solar phone chargers, first aid and essential phone numbers.
- Plans for relocating with a friend, family member or shelter, especially for people with a medical condition that requires electricity, or those needing to work or learn from home during an outage.
Keeping informed
Members should call OTEC at 541-523-3616 or log onto their accounts on www.otec.coop and make sure OTEC has current contact information so they can reach members if necessary. In the event of an outage:
- OTEC members can report an outage and get updates by logging onto OTEC’s mobile app or online account, or by calling 1-800-430-4264.
Additional resources
- OTEC has posted more outage resources and tips on www.otec.coop/outage-center and additional safety and wildfire preparedness resources and information at www.otec.coop/safety-first.
About the cooperative
Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative (OTEC) is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric cooperative that serves nearly 60,000 residents in four counties in Eastern Oregon. Headquartered in Baker City, OTEC has district offices in Burns, John Day and La Grande.
