NewsChannel 3 met up with Dominion Power to find out what they are doing to keep customers safe.
“We’ve been looking at the storm coming in for about a week now in the preparation mode,” said Dominion Power Crewman Jarod Seeloff.
Seeloff and his crew were out on East Little Creek Road in Norfolk on Thursday for a non-weather related call.
They are part of the 200 crews in Hampton Roads and Northern North Carolina that will be responding if power goes out.
They are about to go on 12 hour shifts, they’re making sure their trucks have gas and ready to handle the storms.
“In addition to replacement polls and fuses, they also have chains for the tires, they have ice cleats so they are ready to drive, walk or climb trees, whatever they need to get the lights and the heat back on,” said Dominion Power Spokeswoman Bonita Billingsley Harris.
Dominion leaders said they’re talking to other utility companies in the country as far away as Florida and Alabama to make sure that if they need back up – they’ve got it.
“It might affect different areas differently–like one area may have a lot of snow or another area might have strong winds that cause the problem so we’re making sure were well staffed,” said Billingsley Harris.
Billingsley Harris said where crews go depends on which area has the greatest need, which is not necessarily in Hampton Roads.
Dominion said social media has tremendously increase in how they communicate with customers.
“You can also follow us on Twitter, friend us on Facebook, sign up for text messages. We want to do everything we can so you understand what’s going on with us and we going to understand what’s going on with you,” said Billingsley Harris.
Seeloff admits the toughest part of working the storms is the cold weather, but says there’s a certain joy in turning someone’s power back on.
“Being out here for the customers probably one of our favorite time. When a customer come out and thank us for the job that we do,” he said.
Check out tips on how to prepare for a power outage.
