Cuivre River Electric Cooperative is closely monitoring Thursday’s
winter storm warning which is expected to bring freezing rain, sleet and snow
to the region.

While snow is rarely a service  problem, the potential of freezing rain does
raise concerns, since power outages can be caused by ice weighing down trees
and causing them to fall over power lines. 
The weight of heavy ice on wires and poles can also topple equipment,
especially in windy conditions.

Cuivre River maintains an aggressive
Right-of-Way maintenance program to keep trees away from lines.  However, tall trees beyond the cut
rights-of-way can still fall and disrupt service.  Pole inspections and service upgrades also
help assure equipment in the field is well-maintained and less vulnerable to
damage.

As we await the storm’s arrival, Cuivre
River members who rely on electricity to operate medical equipment are urged to
plan ahead for a potential emergency situation.

Members should also consider
preparing an emergency storm kit, such as recommended at www.redcross.org, or by visiting FEMA’s web site, www.ready.gov.  Check
with county resources to learn where emergency shelters are located.

Cuivre River’s web site, www.cuivre.com,
features a live outage viewer plus other helpful information, such as important
electrical safety information, generator safety information, plus food safety
tips from the USDA.

Cuivre River Electric Cooperative is the largest
member-owned electric cooperative in Missouri, serving over 60,000 homes and
businesses in St. Charles, Lincoln, Warren, southern Pike and eastern
Montgomery counties. 

Cuivre River is one of over 40 electric cooperatives in
Missouri and 900 electric cooperatives which form the largest utility network
in the nation, and can count on assistance if extra help is needed to restore
service during a widespread emergency.