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Prepare for storms

Storm Preparation & Safety

Stay Safe During Storms
Community

This easy-to-follow guide will help keep you and your family safe in the event of an outage.

The key to remaining safe when a hurricane or major storm hits is preparation. Refer to this guide in the days before a coming storm so you and your family can stay safe and be prepared, especially in the event of an outage.

Personal Storm Prep

  • Save Dominion's outage reporting phone number to your contact list. If your lights go out, we need to know.
  • Register your mobile phone to receive text updates from us, to report an outage and check on outage status.
  • Review evacuation zones for your area. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management has an evacuation zone look up tool to assist you in preparing for hurricanes.
  • Keep up-to-date with official weather bulletins, such as the National Hurricane Center, to be aware of current weather conditions.
  • If a family member uses medical equipment, review emergency plans to relocate if necessary.
  • If you own a generator, familiarize yourself with safety measures concerning connecting and operating it before a storm arrives.
  • Fill your cars with gas, and have extra canisters on hand for your generator.
  • Tie down loose items outside to prevent damage.

Emergency Kit Preparation

Storm

More Tips on Preparing for Storms

The National Weather Service recommends creating a basic disaster kit before a storm hits. Store your items in airtight plastic bags and put the entire kit in something that's easy to carry, like a plastic bin or a duffel bag. A basic kit could include the following items, but feel free to add anything additional that you'd need.

  • One gallon of water per person per day (at least a 3-day supply)
  • Non-perishable food such as canned meats and vegetables, protein or fruit bars, dry cereal, food for infants.
  • Battery-powered radio
  • Flashlight
  • First aid kit
  • Extra batteries
  • Manual can opener
  • Local maps
  • Cell phone chargers and extra battery packs
  • Cash (if outages occur, ATMs won't work)
  • Important family documents (insurance policies, IDs, bank records)
  • Blankets for each person
  • Change of clothes
  • Matches in water-proof container
Personal Items

Along with the essential items listed above, remember to pack your disaster kit according to your individual needs, and the needs of your family and pets.

  • Prescription and non-prescription medications.
  • Infant food, bottles, wipes, diapers, etc.
  • Food and water for your pet.
  • Downtime activities (books, games, puzzles).

Restoration Process after the Storm

If your power goes out, be sure to report it via your mobile phone. If you see downed wires, assume the lines are energized, stay away, and please call us.