City Officials Urge Residents To Prepare In Case Of Blackouts

As the El Paso Electric Company closely monitors the electric lines threatened by the Wallow Fire in Arizona, city officials remind people of the importance of preparation in case of rolling blackouts and the loss of running water.

The city’s Department of Public Health recommends residents to have an emergency kit that includes:

Water: 2 gallons per day, per person

Non-perishable food, plastic plates, utensils, hand-operated can opener

Battery-powered or hand-crank radio

Flashlights

Batteries

Extra cell phone battery and car charger

Hand sanitizer, wipes, bleach

Document bag that includes insurance, medical cards, bank account information, list of medications with dosages and doctors’ phone numbers

El Paso Electric officials said Thursday that two power supply lines in Arizona are being threatened by the massive wildfire that has already scorched 525 miles.

One is 8 miles away and supplies 10 percent of EPE’s power.

The other — a critical one– supplies 30 percent of the utility’s power and was 15 miles away from the Wallow Fire as of Thursday morning. If the flames were to reach it, Public Affairs Director Henry Quintana told ABC-7, the company may be forced to implement rolling blackouts to prevent a systemwide failure.

Quintana said EPE has already contacted other utilities in the area in case it needs to buy extra power from them.

As of Thursday afternoon, El Paso Electric had not asked customers to cut down on their energy usage but outages or not, health officials asked everyone to prepare an emergency kit.

“Whether it is used or not, nothing will go to waste, because an emergency supply kit is something we should all have in order to prepare for the unexpected,” said Dr. Hector Ocaranza, Health Authority, in a news release.

His department also issued the following recommendations:

– Fill plastic containers with water, leaving an inch of space inside for the water to expand. Place the containers in the refrigerator and freezer. This will help keep food cold for several hours.

– If you use medication that requires refrigeration, most can be kept in a closed refrigerator for several hours without a problem. If unsure, check with your physician or pharmacist.

– If you have a telephone at home or at work that requires electricity to work (such as a cordless phone), plan for alternate communication, including a standard telephone handset, cell phone, radio or pager.

– Remember that equipment such as automatic teller machines (ATMSs) may not work during a power outage, so make sure you have extra cash at home.

– Keep your car fuel tank at least half full because gas stations rely on electricity to power the pumps.

“What we learned during the recent power outages during the freeze earlier this year, is that our community is willing to do what it takes to protect themselves, their families and those around them,” said Ocaranza. “What they need is information and direction in order to make the most of their time and energy.”

If you need special assistance, officials recommend you call the city’s 2-1-1 Information and Referral Network.