September is National Preparedness Month, a reminder that the best time to prepare for an emergency is before one happens.
In the Texas Hill Country, severe thunderstorms, high winds, lightning, flooding, extreme heat, extreme cold snaps, snow and ice storms, and other unexpected events can impact electric service. While KPUB works year-round to maintain and strengthen our electric system, every household can take important steps to be ready if an outage occurs.
Preparedness is a shared effort. KPUB prepares our electric system. You can prepare your home and family.
Start With an Emergency Plan
If the power went out today and remained off for several hours—or longer—would your household be ready?
Start by making a family emergency plan. Know how you will communicate, where you will go if conditions require you to leave your home and how you will receive reliable emergency information.
Your plan should account for everyone in your household, including children, older adults, individuals with disabilities or medical needs and pets.
Build an Emergency Kit
Keep emergency supplies somewhere easy to find and make sure everyone in your household knows where they are.
Emergency preparedness experts recommend having enough essential supplies available to last your household for at least 72 hours. Consider including:
- Nonperishable food that does not require cooking
- Drinking water
- Prescription medications
- First-aid supplies
- Flashlights and lanterns
- Extra batteries
- Battery-operated weather radio
- Blankets and warm clothing
- Cell phone chargers and fully charged power banks
- Copies of important documents
- Personal hygiene items
- Cash
- Supplies for children, older adults and others with specific needs
- Food, water and medications for pets
Check your kit periodically and replace expired food, medications, batteries and other supplies as needed. Keep your power banks charged so they are ready when you need them.
Plan Ahead for Medical Needs
Preparedness is especially important for anyone who relies on electrically powered medical equipment.
KPUB encourages customers with qualifying medical needs to make sure the utility is aware of their situation. However, KPUB cannot guarantee uninterrupted electric service or immediate restoration for any customer, including customers with medical needs, during an outage or emergency event.
Have an alternate power plan in place before an emergency occurs. Depending on your needs, that could include additional oxygen tanks, charged equipment batteries, backup medical equipment, a backup battery power source or an appropriately sized generator.
If you use a generator, learn how to operate it safely before you need it. Never operate a portable generator inside your home, garage or another enclosed or partially enclosed area, and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Learn more about KPUB generator safety and backup power here.
Prepare Your Property Before Severe Weather
Preparedness doesn’t stop at your front door.
Before severe weather arrives, secure patio furniture, umbrellas, decorations, trash cans and other loose outdoor objects that could become hazards in high winds.
Trees and vegetation also deserve attention. High winds and the weight of snow or ice can cause weakened trees and limbs to fall, potentially damaging electric lines and equipment.
Regularly inspect and maintain trees on your property, especially dead, damaged or weakened limbs.
Never attempt to trim or remove a tree or limb that is touching or dangerously close to a power line. Contact KPUB with a tree trimming request if you have concerns about vegetation near KPUB electric facilities.
When planting new trees, consider their mature height and canopy and choose locations safely away from overhead power lines and other utility infrastructure.
Stay Away From Downed Power Lines
Severe weather can bring electric lines to the ground.
Always assume a downed power line is energized and dangerous.
Stay well away from the line and anything it may be touching, including trees, fences, vehicles and other objects. Keep children and pets away from the area and report the hazard immediately.
Never attempt to move a downed line or anything in contact with one.
If a power line falls on or near your vehicle, remain inside unless staying in the vehicle presents an immediate danger, such as a fire. Call 911 and wait for emergency personnel to tell you when it is safe to exit. Learn more safety tips here.
Stay Connected & Informed
Having emergency supplies is important, but so is knowing where to turn for reliable information.
National Preparedness Month is a great time to make sure you’re connected to the resources you’ll need before the next emergency.
Download the KPUB SmartHub App
The free KPUB SmartHub app gives customers convenient access to their account and allows them to report a power outage 24/7 from a mobile device.
Don’t wait until the lights go out to get set up. Download SmartHub, make sure you can log in, and confirm the contact information on your account is current.
Learn more about the KPUB SmartHub app here.
Sign Up for KPUB Outage Text Alerts
KPUB offers two-way text messaging that allows customers to report an outage and receive outage-related updates.
Make sure your mobile phone number is current in SmartHub so you can receive these important messages. Customers can also call 830-257-3050 to verify the mobile number associated with their account.
Learn more about KPUB outages and notifications.
Sign Up for ERCOT Alerts
KPUB provides information about your local electric service, while ERCOT provides information about conditions on the statewide Texas electric grid.
Customers can sign up for ERCOT’s Texas Advisory and Notification System (TXANS) for information about significant weather, periods of high electricity demand and other grid conditions. ERCOT also provides Emergency Alerts during grid emergency conditions.
Learn more or sign up for ERCOT alerts.
Enroll in Local Emergency Alerts
Local emergency notifications are another important part of your preparedness plan.
Kerr County residents can enroll in CodeRED to receive notifications about emergencies that could affect public safety, including severe weather, flooding, wildfires, evacuations and other local hazards.
Make sure your information is current before an emergency occurs.
Learn more or sign up for Kerr County CodeRED alerts here.
What KPUB Does Before the Storm
Customer preparedness is only one part of the equation. KPUB works throughout the year to maintain and strengthen our electric system so we’re prepared when severe weather arrives.
Our teams inspect and maintain electric infrastructure, manage vegetation around power lines, monitor system conditions, maintain equipment and coordinate emergency response efforts.
When widespread outages occur, restoring power isn’t always as simple as flipping a switch. Crews must identify damage, address hazards and safely make the repairs needed to restore electric service. Severe weather, flooding, debris and other field conditions can also affect access to damaged equipment.
The work that happens throughout the year helps put KPUB in the best position possible to respond safely and efficiently when our community needs us most.
Preparedness Starts Before the Emergency
You can’t control when severe weather or an emergency will happen, but you can take steps now to be ready.
This National Preparedness Month:
- Make or review your family emergency plan.
- Build or refresh your emergency kit.
- Keep your phones and power banks charged when severe weather is expected.
- Plan ahead for medical and accessibility needs.
- Review generator safety before you need a generator.
- Maintain trees and vegetation on your property.
- Know how to stay safe around downed power lines.
- Download and set up KPUB SmartHub.
- Verify your contact information with KPUB.
- Sign up for KPUB outage text notifications.
- Enroll in ERCOT and local emergency alerts.
A little preparation today can make a big difference when the unexpected happens.
Prepare early. Stay informed. Stay safe.
Preparedness Resources
KPUB SmartHub | Outages & Outage Reporting | Generator Safety | Tree Trimming & Vegetation Management | Medical Necessity Program | ERCOT Alerts | Kerr County CodeRED | Ready.gov