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Bracing for the Unpredictable

Ice Storm

Last year’s ice storm was the worst the region has seen in over a quarter of a century. And while the chances of another storm of that magnitude occurring in the near future are slim, weather in our region is as unpredictable as it comes. And while we can’t control the weather, we can control how prepared we are in case of a major storm.

Cass County Electric Cooperative (CCEC) prides itself as a leader in safety for its employees and members. That includes storm preparation, response, and preventative maintenance that keeps you as a member at the forefront of the picture. It’s also critical for members to take proactive steps to ensure preparedness in the event of a major ice storm that causes the power to go out for an extended period.

“The first step to proactive safety is your own well-being,” CCEC Manager of Systems Maintenance and Fleet CJ Erickson said. “It’s critical to prepare for the worst.”

Safety for one’s well-being starts with over-preparing essential resources such as food and water, as well as planning logistics for heating, sump pumps, and livestock for farmers.

“If we have an extreme weather event forecasted and you suspect you may be out of power for a day, plan to have enough resources for three to four days,” Erickson said.

A former lineworker for 17 years, Erickson stresses the importance of investing in a generator.

“If you’ve got the financial means, it (buying a generator) can be a lifesaver.”

Yet, while generators can keep the lights on during a severe outage, they can be deadly to both users and lineworkers if not used or installed properly.

“Always contact a licensed electrician to install your generator or if you have critical maintenance questions,” Erickson said. “The consequences of not doing so can be tragic.”

Refer to the following safety and maintenance tips for your generator. 
 

Do

- Keep all standby, portable, and inverter generators at least 20 feet from your home or barn. 
- Direct exhaust from your generator away from your home or barn. 
- Make sure to start and stop generators when no electrical loads are connected. 
- Ensure your generator is properly grounded. Use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to prevent electrical shock injuries. 
- Keep portable and inverter generators dry and out of rain/snow. 
 

Don’t

- Connect a generator directly to your home’s wiring without the appropriate transfer switch installed. 
- Plug a generator into a regular household outlet. 
- Operate a generator in a closed space. 
- Fuel a generator while it is operating. 
- Overload generators. 
- Touch hot parts of the generator while in use (muffler or engine components).

Remember – safety starts and ends with you! Never hesitate to reach out to CCEC with questions. 
 

CCEC’s proactive and preventative approach to storm safety

Last winter’s ice storm will go down infamously as one of the worst our region has seen.

“These are rare measures,” Erickson said. “While there weren’t as many poles down as there were in 1997, the footprint of the damage was much greater.”

While epic ice storms are rare, CCEC’s team always takes proactive approaches to best equip the cooperative and its members for them if they do occur.

“We’re a sound cooperative that has a lot of experience on what works and what doesn’t,” Erickson said. “We can be proactive about maintenance because of our size and experience.”

That includes annual pole testing and overhead maintenance. CCEC tests 4,000-5,000 poles each year and has information on each pole’s age, model, and any previous issues.

“In a two-year span, we survey our entire service territory of overhead,” Erickson said. “Standard maintenance also includes vegetation management (trees, bushes, etc.) and animal protection measures.”

Erickson and his team know the ins and outs of each corner of CCEC’s service territory. For example, they’ve found that some older poles, given their build and coating, are more sturdy than modern poles.

“Some of our oldest poles are some of our best poles,” he said. “We had poles that were installed in 1949 (that still pass regulation) that were standing during the storm and ones put in just weeks prior that were on the ground.”

While CCEC took all appropriate approaches in response to last year’s storm, new lessons were learned, and strategies were implemented. Most notably, the cooperative has received approval from FEMA of five grant requests to bury 11 miles of line underground in the western part of CCEC’s service territory.

Being proactive isn’t just important during crises; it’s the day-to-day expectation for CCEC’s team.

“We’re always looking ahead and learning from previous experiences,” Erickson said. “We take pride in keeping the lights on, and it’s our duty to be prepared for external circumstances that infringe on that.”