Simple steps customers can take now

Being ready doesn’t have to mean spending a lot of money or stocking up on expensive supplies. Knowing who to call, where to get information and assistance, and how you will stay safe during an outage can make a meaningful difference when severe weather arrives.

Make a plan. Think through what your household will do if the power is out for an extended period. A good emergency plan doesn’t have to cost money or take up much space.
Check-in with family and friends. Connect with neighbors, friends or family and agree to check on one another during an outage, especially people who are older, have a disability or rely on medical equipment.
Know where to get help. Identify nearby food pantries, warming center and community organizations that may be available during severe weather. Call 211 or visit 211info.org for utility assistance and other local resources.
Plan for medical needs. If someone in your household depends on electricity for medical equipment, talk with their health care provider about a backup plan.
Keep important phone numbers handy. Write them down in case your cell phone battery runs low.
Know how to open your garage door manually if you have an electric garage door opener.

Build an outage kit over time

An emergency kit doesn’t have to be expensive or assembled all at once. Start with items you already have and add supplies as you can. Even a small bag or box can help. Consider including:

Flashlights or headlamps
A battery-powered or hand-crank radio
A car charger or backup power source for phones and other devices
A 72-hour supply of ready-to-eat food and water
Required medications
Extra blankets
Water for people and pets

Customers should also understand safe cooking, heating and lighting practices during an outage, particularly when using generators. More information about generator use and other precautions is available at www.portlandgeneral.com/safety. Additional winter preparedness tips are available at www.portlandgeneral.com/beprepared.

What to do if the power goes out

PGE provides several ways for customers to report an outage and get updates:

Downed power line safety information

If you see a downed power line, stay far away and never touch it or anything it's touching, such as a fence, a puddle or a vehicle. Always assume the line is live and extremely dangerous. It doesn't have to spark or sizzle to be live, so stay at least 50 feet back (that's a little longer than a city bus). Call 911 first, then report it to PGE at 503-464-7777.

Source: PGE

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