REC Deploys Nearly 400 Field Personnel to Tackle Power Outages Members Urged to Prepare for Second S

Fredericksburg, Va. — Nearly 400 field personnel are working to make repairs and restore service for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) members who remain without power after Winter Storm Freya.
Crews from eight other electric cooperatives have joined REC's line workers, contractors and tree teams to restore service as quickly and safely as possible. With more than 300 separate damage sites, some outages will continue into the weekend. Each outage event requires a crew to respond, assess the damage and make the necessary repairs, some of which can take several hours to complete.

Crews have identified nearly 30 broken poles so far and expect to discover more today as teams make their way to additional damage sites.

Field teams continue to deal with challenges, including ice and difficult-to-reach rights-of-way, some of which are not accessible even with specialized equipment such as big foot trucks and track machines. As a result, some crews need to carry substantial equipment down remote rights-of-way and then manually climb poles to make needed repairs.
Even while restoring outages from Winter Storm Freya, REC is preparing for another round of ice and snow that is expected to impact the Northern and Western portion of its service territory on Saturday. Significant ice buildup is possible with this next round of wintry weather, and members are urged to prepare for additional power outages over the weekend.

What to do before the next storm:

• Consider a secondary heating source such as a generator (see important safety tips below).
• Gather any extra blankets, bedding, sleeping bags, sweaters and other warm clothing.
• Find a complete list of emergency items REC recommends you assemble ahead of the storm: myrec.coop/stormprep.
• Charge critical electronics such as cell phones.

Other steps you can take now:

• Bookmark REC’s outage center: myrec.coop/outagecenter.
• Remember that you can now report your outage by texting OUT to 63273.
• You also can use your mobile phone or devices to report an outage at myrec.coop/out or report an outage in the MyREC SmartHub mobile app.
• If someone in your home requires electricity for a serious medical condition, review your backup plan for an alternate location with power that you can rely on during an outage.

Important safety reminders:

• If you see a downed power line, always assume it is energized and dangerous. Stay away from the line and anything that might be in contact with it. Call 911 and contact REC at 800-552-3904 to report downed power lines.
• If your backup power plan includes using a generator, be sure to follow all safety guidelines including:
  • Isolate your generator from REC’s power lines. Connect appliances or other devices directly to the generator with the appropriate cords.
  • If you connect it directly to your building's wiring, a generator transfer switch is required to separate your generator from the co-op's system.
  • Take care when fueling your generator. Never refuel the unit while it's operating.
  • Provide adequate ventilation and air cooling for the generator to prevent overheating and the accumulation of toxic fumes. Do not install your generator in a closed area. Exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, which is poisonous.

Serving more than 180,000 connections across 22 Virginia counties, REC is a pillar in its communities, with over 18,000 miles of power lines extending from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay. For more information on REC’s initiatives, visit www.myrec.coop and follow REC on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube