Mississippi Power reminds customers of ways to stay storm-ready during National Preparedness Month

Gulfport, Miss. – September is National Preparedness Month and Mississippi Power has tips and resources for customers to stay storm-ready no matter the weather.

While southeast Mississippi has been spared impacts from a major hurricane so far this year, frequent thunderstorms and severe lightning have served as reminders that customers should always have an emergency plan in place.

“Our team is well-trained and knows how to safely work in all conditions, and we want to make sure our customers are just as storm-tested and ready as we are,” said Mississippi Power Storm Director Brad Falls. “That means taking proactive measures now instead of waiting until there’s a severe weather system headed our way.”

Mississippi Power has remained proactive in its storm preparations, working year-round to strengthen its system for customers and increase reliability both during storms and when the sun is shining. Investments have included upgrading power poles to steel or concrete in storm-prone areas, raising equipment in substations to avoid floodwaters and building power lines to withstand extreme winds. In fact, investments like these have helped customers avoid more than 24 million outage minutes in the last five years alone.

Customers should take time this month to do the following to ensure they keep their families, homes and businesses safe against natural disasters:

• Have an emergency plan and review it with your loved ones: Establish a safe place in your home, when and where you would evacuate and how you would get there, ways to communicate and how you would prepare your home. Planning ahead and reviewing the plan with your family reduces stress and ensures family members know what to do when the unexpected happens.
• Build an emergency kit stocked with essentials: Non-perishable food items, water and essential medication for every member of your family (pets included!) should be in your storm kit year-round. Flashlights, extra batteries and a weather radio are also smart additions to your kit.
• Review your resources: Know where local storm shelters are, download a local news app with weather notifications and check out Mississippi Power’s Storm Center for additional ways to stay prepared.
• Stay connected with us: Mississippi Power customers can sign up for Outage Alerts, track outages on the company’s Outage Map, download the Mississippi Power app for easy access and follow Mississippi Power on Facebook for the latest updates during a storm.

“This month is a great reminder to prepare when the sun is shining and that it never hurts to have a safety plan in place,” continued Falls. “No matter what Mother Nature throws our way, our customers should know that Mississippi Power crews will be ready to serve our communities when they need us most.”

Mississippi Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), produces safe, reliable and affordable energy for more than 194,000 customers in 23 southeast Mississippi counties. Mississippi Power has served its communities for more than a century and is an industry leader in safety, reliability and economic development. The Southeastern Electric Exchange recognized the company for Top Safety Performance in its generation category, and Site Selection named Mississippi Power a top utility driving economic development in the United States. For reliability, The Edison Electric Institute has recognized Mississippi Power with multiple Emergency Response Awards for outstanding storm response. Visit our website at mississippipower.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube for company updates.

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