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Family Disaster Information

Disasters can happen at anytime and anywhere. When disaster strikes, you may not have much time to respond. A winter storm could confine your family at home. An earthquake, flood, tornado or any other disaster could cut off basic services such as gas, water, electricity and telephone service for days.

Here are a few tips to help you and your family prepare if and when a disaster would occur:

To prepare your kit:

  • Place supplies you'd most likely need for an evacuation in an easy-to-carry container.
  • Store your kit in a convenient place for everyone.
  • Keep items in air tight plastic bags.
  • Change your stored water supply and rotate stored food every six months.

Water: Store in plastic containers (i.e. soft drink bottles). Keep at least a three-day supply of water for each person in your household.

Food: Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. Select foods that don't require refrigeration, preparation or cooking and little or no water. The following foods could be ideal: ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables; canned juices; food for infants and elderly; snack foods.

First Aid Kit: Assemble a kit for your home and one for each car to include: bandages (assorted sizes), gauze pads, hypoallergenic adhesive tape, roller bandages, scissors, tweezers, moistened towelettes, thermometer; aspirin, antacid, etc. 

Tools and Supplies: Paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, battery operated radio and extra batteries, flashlight, fire extinguisher, toilet paper, personal hygiene items, disinfectant, etc.

Clothing and Bedding: Sturdy shoes or work boots, blankets or sleeping bags, thermal underwear, hat and gloves.

Create a Family Disaster Plan

  • Contact your local emergency management or local Red Cross Chapter to determine which disasters are most likely to occur in your community.
  • Meet with your family to discuss how they can prepare and respond to a disaster; discuss what to do if you need to evacuate.
  • Plan how your family will stay in contact if you become separated. Choose a location a safe distance from your home as well as an alternate location outside of your neighborhood in case you are unable to return home.

This information provided by the American Red Cross, Berks County Chapter and FEMA (Federal Emergency Mgmt Agency)

Power Outage?

Customers who are without power are encouraged to call 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877) to report their outage or click the "View or Report Outages" link on www.firstenergycorp.com. In the event of severe weather, customers should immediately report downed wires to their utility or their local Police of Fire Department. Customers should never go near a downed power line, even if they think it is no longer carrying electricity. Extra caution should be used in areas where downed lines are tangled in trees and other debris. Motorists are cautioned to treat intersections with inoperable traffic signals as four-way stops.

Customers are encouraged to prepare for the possibility of outages caused by significant snowfall and high winds:

  • Keep electronic devices such as cell phones, laptops and tablet computers fully charged to be ready for any emergencies.
  • Keep a flashlight, portable radio and extra batteries handy in the event a power interruption occurs. Tune to a local station for current storm information.
  • Never use a portable generator inside the house or a closed garage in the event of a power outage. Ensure the proper generator is selected and installed by a qualified electrician. When operating a generator, the power coming into the home should always be disconnected. Otherwise, power from the generator could be sent back onto the utility lines, creating a hazardous situation for utility workers.
  • Gather extra blankets or a sleeping bag for each person. Do not use gas stoves, kerosene heaters or other open-flame heat sources to prevent deadly carbon monoxide gas from building up in your home.
  • If you have a water well and pump, keep an emergency supply of bottled water and/or fill your bathtub with fresh water.
  • Stock an emergency supply of convenience foods that do not require cooking.
  • Mobile phones can be charged in your vehicle using a car charger when the power is out. If you have a smart phone, this will ensure you have access to online information sources.

FirstEnergy customers also can subscribe to email and text message alert notifications to receive billing reminders, weather alerts in advance of major storms, and updates on scheduled or extended power outages. Customers can also use two-way text messaging to report outages, request updates on restoration efforts, and make other inquiries about their electric accounts.

More information about these communication tools is available online at www.firstenergycorp.com/connect.