Pepco Strives To Keep Electricity Running During Any Weather [Video]

Whether a power outage is due to a storm, balloon, downed airplane, lightning strike, chewing animal or fallen tree, Pepco’s emergency preparedness team and line crews stand ready to restore power as quickly as possible.

On Tuesday at its service center in Rockville, Pepco employees demonstrated scenarios where a tree limb had brought down a live wire, and a mylar balloon had sparked a fire that caused a power outage.

Never touch a live wire or remove debris atop the wire. Call 311 instead, Pepco employees advised. Think safety first, both for residents and utility workers, Pepco officials urged.

Pepco also suggested:

• Download Pepco’s mobile app at pepco.com/MobileAp to report outages and view estimated restoration times.
• Sign up for emergency alerts at pepco.com/Alerts
• Assemble an emergency storm kit. Include battery-powered radio, flashlight, a first-aid kit, battery-powered or windup clock, extra batteries, medications, multi-purpose tool and list of important/emergency phone numbers.
• Have a supply of bottled water and easy …