Sept. 10, 2018
Olivia, which is expected to weaken to a tropical storm still has potential to cause major damage. Forecasts show that the islands will experience wind and heavy rain as early as tomorrow.
~ Ron Cox, senior vice president of operations
“There will be outages if the islands are hit by powerful winds, torrential
rain, and flooding. Once the storm has passed and it is safe for our crews to begin restoration,
we will work as quickly and safely as possible to restore power.”
As the storm approaches, customers should review family and business emergency plans, ensure they have supplies they need on hand and keep close watch on the development of the storm system.
Consider the following safety and preparedness tips:
- Unplug electric appliances you may not need or use until the storm has passed or until power is restored
- If you plan to use a portable generator after the storm, make sure it is placed in a well-ventilated area (outside the home), and be sure to carefully follow all instructions in the manufacturer’s manual
- If you have photovoltaic panels installed on your roof, many solar PV systems will not operate when power is out. Grid-tied systems are designed to shut down in the event of outages for safety reasons. This is true for all systems except those that are designed to provide emergency back-up power in the event of an outage.
More electrical safety and preparation tips are available in HELCOs Handbook for Emergency Preparedness, available in five languages, at; www.hawaiielectriclight.com/prepare