Georgia Power crews scheduled to assist with Hurricane Sally recovery

ATLANTA, Sept. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As Hurricane Sally makes its way across Alabama, Georgia Power is ready to respond after receiving requests for assistance from Alabama Power, a Southern Company subsidiary. Due to the strength of the Southern Company system, personnel and key resources can be quickly and safely moved between system companies to assist with storm restoration. Georgia Power crews and support teams will travel to impacted areas as weather permits, while the company continues monitoring the changing weather conditions and adjusts plans and responses as needed.

Georgia Power also coordinates with other utilities through the mutual assistance network. The network consists of hundreds of utilities from around the country. As part of this partnership, Georgia Power is able to respond and offer assistance, providing reinforcements when needed to restore power quickly for other utilities. The company is also able to request additional resources to help restore power to Georgia Power customers following a major storm.

With each request for assistance, the company ensures that it has sufficient coverage to respond to potential local service interruptions in Georgia. Currently, Georgia Power has contributed approximately 500 company and contractor personnel to assist with restoration efforts in Alabama.

As severe weather approaches Georgia, the company is able to pull resources from areas less affected by the storm and redirect them to areas needing help, all with the goal of restoring service as quickly and safely as possible.

Georgia Power reminds customers to keep safety first during hurricane season and offers the following storm tips:

    --  Before a Storm:  Know your risks of flooding or storm surge and tropical
        storm or hurricane strength winds. Check your emergency kit, unplug
        major appliances and charge cell phones in case you lose power.
    --  During a Storm: Take safe shelter inside a sturdy building away from
        windows and doors. Avoid contact with conductors of electricity -
        appliances, metal objects and water.
    --  After a Storm: Never touch any downed or low-hanging wire, including
        telephone or TV wires that touch a power line. Never pull tree limbs off
        of power lines yourself or enter areas with debris, downed trees or
        standing water as downed power lines may be buried in wreckage or
        submerged in water or mud.

Tools You Can Use to Prepare for Severe Weather Year-round

    --  Outage Alerts - Subscribe to the free Georgia Power Outage Alert service
        to receive personalized notifications and updates via text message.
    --  Outage & Storm Center - Available at www.georgiapower.com/storm,
        customers can visit this site to sign up for Outage Alerts, report and
        check the status of outages, and access useful safety tips and
        information. Customers can report and check the status of an outage 24
        hours a day by contacting Georgia Power at 888-891-0938.
    --  Outage Map - Housed within the Outage & Storm Center, Georgia Power's
        interactive Outage Map provides near real-time information, allowing
        users to see where outages are occurring across the state and track
        estimated restoration times.
    --  Georgia Power Mobile App - Download the Georgia Power mobile app for
        Apple and Android devices to access storm and outage information on the
        go.
    --  @GeorgiaPower on Twitter - Follow @GeorgiaPower on Twitter for storm
        tips, outage updates, customer service and more.
    --  Emergency Plan and Kit - Visit the Georgia Power storm page for
        information on how to build a family emergency plan and emergency supply
        kit.

Storm Response Pandemic Preparations
Georgia Power teams are prepared to respond to service interruptions that might occur because of severe weather while taking proactive actions including special "distancing" and other precautions to help protect customers and employees from the spread of the virus.

In addition, the company's comprehensive pandemic plans help ensure readiness of the critical personnel and facilities necessary to continue providing the safe and reliable energy customers expect and deserve.

In the field, the power restoration process includes these key steps:

    --  Assessing Conditions - Responding crews - or in major storms, damage
        assessment teams - work to identify trouble spots and the resources
        needed to fix them, which could involve coming onto customers' property.
        Crews will employ appropriate distancing efforts and customers are asked
        to keep children and pets indoors and maintain safe distances from crew
        members as well.
    --  Making Repairs - Georgia Power crews focus on repairs that return power
        to the greatest number of customers in the least amount of time.

Ways you can help keep workers safe while they work in the field:

    --  If you see utility crews, please stay back a minimum of six feet - much
        more if they are working.
    --  Please, no cookies or treats for workers during this time. Give a wave
        or thumbs up to workers you see. They'll understand your gratitude as
        they work to keep the lights on.
    --  Don't touch utility trucks or equipment. Electric providers are
        operating under modified conditions to keep workers safe, which includes
        additional cleaning and sanitation of tools and equipment.

About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.6 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is consistently recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).

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SOURCE Georgia Power