PINEVILLE, LA – Hurricane season officially began June 1, and Cleco is reminding customers to stay safe before, during and after a storm, and to develop a hurricane plan. Cleco offers storm safety tips and a Hurricane Preparation Guide to its customers. 

“Cleco prepares year-round for storms, and we encourage our customers to be ready, too.” said James Lass, general manager distribution operations and emergency management. “Hurricane season can be very unpredictable, but being prepared means you are ready no matter when or where a storm hits.”

Cleco is helping customers prepare by offering its Hurricane Preparation Guide filled with valuable information. The brochure has an emergency checklist, storm response and family evacuation tips, safety information, a glossary of storm advisory terms, and a list of emergency broadcast stations.

The guide also contains electrical safety information. “Cleco encourages electrical safety at all times, but storms can present a greater danger,” said Lass. “Tree damage can cause power lines to fall to the ground. Even though a person’s power may be out, the lines could be energized and dangerous. Customers also should have their homes checked by an electrician before re-entering if flooding occurs.”

The guide and additional electrical safety information are available at Cleco customer service offices and Cleco’s website.

The following information is helpful when preparing for a storm: 

Residents who have special medical needs should make provisions for any medications which require refrigeration or any medical equipment which requires electricity.

A cooler should be part of an emergency supply kit, which should also include water, non-perishable foods, blankets, clothes, a first aid kit, a battery-operated radio, flashlight and batteries, cash, and important documents in a waterproof container.

Do not forget pets when making an evacuation plan. Be sure to call ahead to see if the shelter or hotel accepts pets. If not, make arrangements at a kennel or with a relative who lives outside the evacuation area. If you are home during a storm, keep your pets inside.

The safe use of portable generators during a power outage is strongly encouraged. Portable generators should not be plugged directly into your home’s wall outlet. Appliances should be plugged into the generator, which should be operated only in well-ventilated areas away from combustible material and should be kept free of oil, mud and other foreign materials. More information on the safe use of a generator also can be found on the Cleco website.