Ocala Electric Utility urges hurricane season preparations

During National Electrical Safety Month, Ocala Electric Utility urges residents and businesses to review important electric safety measures before the start of hurricane season.

June 1 is the start of the annual hurricane season, which runs through Nov. 30.

“Severe weather creates life-threatening hazards. It is important that we all treat electricity with extreme caution before, during, and after a storm,” said Marvin Ayala, OEU director. “Our Storm Preparation Booklet is free and can be downloaded at severeweather.ocalafl.org. The booklet offers helpful information on how to prepare.”

OEU offers these quick tips for storm season:

Before a storm, remember to charge electronic devices and turn off non-essential circuit breakers. During the storm, stay indoors, only using generators outdoors and using carbon monoxide alarms. After the storm, have a licensed electrician inspect any water-damaged electrical equipment and report downed power lines.