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Progress Energy crews ready for ice, snow

Progress Energy is preparing for potential ice and snow this weekend. Officials said crews from other parts of the state and region will help to respond to any outages that might occur.

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RALEIGH, N.C. — Progress Energy is preparing for potential ice and snow this weekend. Officials said crews from other parts of the state and region will help to respond to any outages that might occur.

“We are expecting damage across our system,” company spokesman Scott Sutton said.

Their biggest concern is ice, which can stick to power lines, he said. Ice collects and weighs lines down, sometimes causing them to fall.

Tips to prepare for a power outage:

  • Charge your cell phone
  • Get a battery-powered flashlight and radio
  • Keep extra batteries on hand
  • Stock canned goods and bottled water
  • Have extra fuel on hand for alternate heating sources, such as wood for a wood-burning stove, or kerosene for a heater

If a power outage occurs, one of the first things experts suggest doing is using your cell phone to call your local power company.

“The only way we know you don’t have power is if you call us to tell us that,” Sutton said.

Customers can call 800-419-6356 to report any outages.

Some people may be producing their own power with a generator. Richard Brunston, of Lowe’s in Cary, suggests people make sure their generators are going to function properly before using it during an outage.

People should check to be sure the generator has fresh fuel and oil. It should also be kept outside.

“It needs to be away. It is a combustion engine,” Brunston said.

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