Here’s what to do if you lose power during severe weather

>> LET’S TALK ABOUT THE FORECAST. >> IT IS A HUGE SYSTEM. IT HAS HAD ITS DAMAGE ALREADY. IT’S MAKING ITS WAY HERE. IT’S JUST RAIN RIGHT NOW. >> WE COULD SEE SOME STORMS LATER TODAY THAT PRODUCE TORNADO POTENTIAL, ESPECIALLY SOUTH OF THE GREATER CINCINNATI AREA. FOR NOW, WE HAVE PLAIN OLD RAIN. THIS IS GOING TO CREATE A LOT OF PONDING ON THE ROADWAYS. YOU CAN SEE MOST OF WHAT’S NORTH OF THE 275 LOOP. LOOK AT HOW HEAVY SOME OF THIS RAINFALL IS AS YOU HAD SOUTH OF THE 71/75 SPLIT. I MERRILY LIGHT RAIN. -- PRIMARILY LIGHTS RAIN. INTO HAMILTON, FURTHER SOUTH. WE’VE GOT SOME STEADIER LIGHT SHOWERS. IT’S STARTING TO PICK UP ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF 275. ERLANGER STARTING TO SEE SOME OF THAT RAIN. AROUND DEARBORN COUNTY, WE’VE GOT HEAVY RAINFALL. SOUTH OF THE COUNTY, YOU ARE SEEING PRETTY HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS. SOUTH INTO THE 71/75 SPLIT REGION, HEAVY RAINFALL. THIS IS THE RAIN THAT’S GOING TO CAUSE PONDING. SOUTH OF DRY RIDGE, I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF WE HAVE STANDING WATER ON OUR HIGHWAYS. SEVEN COUNTIES AROUND PENDLETON, BRACKEN COUNTY. MASON AND ROBERTSON COUNTY SEEING HEAVIER RAIN SHOWERS AS YOU HEAD OUT INTO ADAMS COUNTY. AS YOU HEAD EAST AND SOUTHEAST OF THE 275 LOOP FRIDAY. IT A LARGE SYSTEM PUSHING INTO THE AREA. WE HAVE A WEATHER IMPACT IN PLACE TODAY. STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS VERY LIKELY FOR THE VIEWING AREA. WE ARE GOING TO SEE SOME STRONG WIDESPREAD WIND GUSTS AS HIGH AS 51 MILES PER HOUR. A RECIPE FOR A PRETTY GOOD ACTIVE DAY. THE SEVERE THREAT LOOKS HIGHER AND THIS IS GOING TO BE YOUR BEST ZONE FOR STORMS TO PRODUCE TORNADOES. COULD CERTAINLY SEE SOME OF THAT FURTHER NORTH, BUT I WOULD SAY FURTHER SOUTH AND INTO CENTRAL KENTUCKY YOU’VE GOT YOUR BEST TORNADO THREATS. FLOOD WATCH IN PLACE. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE HEAVY RAIN WHICH COULD CAUSE FLASH FLOODING CONCERNS. WIND ADVISORIES FROM 2 P.M. TODAY UNTIL 4 P.M. SATURDAY. ACROSS THE REGION, THAT COULD CREATE DOWNED LINES ALONG WITH ISOLATED POWER OUTAGES. THE HEAVIER RAIN COMING IN BETWEEN NOW AND 9:00 EVEN AS LATE AS 10:00, WE ARE LOOKING AT HEAVY SOAKING RAIN FALLS. MAY SOME SCATTERED RAIN, A LOT OF CLOUD COVER. THE STORMS START TO DEVELOP IT’S GOING TO BRING US STRONG TO SEVERE WEATHER. THIS IS WHEN WE COULD SEE THOSE STORMS. NOTICED SOME OF THE STRONGER CELLS A LITTLE FURTHER SOUTH. AS YOU HEAD NORTH, STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS LATER TODAY. MOST OF THESE ARE GOING TO BE GONE BY ABOUT 4:00 THIS EVENING. ABOUT ONE TO THREE INCHES OF RAIN ACCUMULATION WHEN THIS IS ALL SET AND DONE. THE OHIO RIVER IS GOING TO BE RISING. WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE SECONDARY RIVERS, CREEKS, STREAMS AS WELL. WENDY AND CHILE WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE MID 30’S. WE’VE GOT SOME SUNSHINE AND TEMPERATURE IN THE 50’S ON THE WEEKEND AND WE WILL HAVE SOME SHOWERS AND STORMS ARRIVING FOR THE EVENING HOURS ON MONDAY. WE ARE GOING TO COOL DOWN MID-LATE WEEK.

Here's what to do if you lose power during severe weather

Updated: 6:23 AM EST Mar 3, 2023

There's a chance for severe storms on Friday across Cincinnati.Duke Energy, one of the largest energy providers across Greater Cincinnati, helps residents prepare for storms in case they experience an extended power outage. Duke also recommends the following safety tips:Before the stormCreate (or update) an emergency supply kit to save valuable time later. The kit should include everything an individual or family would need for at least two weeks, especially medicines, water, nonperishable foods and other supplies that might be hard to find after a storm hits.Keep a portable radio or TV or an NOAA weather radio on hand to monitor weather forecasts and important information from state and local officials.Charge cellphones, computers and other electronic devices in advance of storms to stay connected to important safety and response information. Consider purchasing portable chargers and make sure they are fully charged as well.Pet owners should arrange to stay at evacuation shelters that accept pets; friends' or family members' homes; or pet-friendly hotels.After the stormStay away from power lines that have fallen or are sagging. Consider all lines energized, as well as trees, limbs or anything in contact with lines.If a power line falls across a car that you are in, stay in the car. If you MUST get out of the car due to a fire or other immediate life-threatening situation, do your best to jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Be sure that no part of your body is touching the car when your feet touch the ground.The quickest way for customers in Ohio and Kentucky to report power outages is by calling 1.800.543.5599.You can receive status updates on a power outage affecting you by texting REG to 57801, or sign-up online at duke-energy.com/outagealerts.Generator SafetyAlways operate a generator in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines and instructions. Do not operate more appliances and equipment than the output rating of the generator.To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, never use a generator indoors or in attached garages.Only operate the generator outdoors in a well-ventilated, dry area away from air intakes into the home.To avoid electrocution, plug individual appliances into the generator using heavy-duty, outdoor-rated cords with a wire gauge adequate for the appliance load.If connecting into the house wiring is necessary on a temporary basis, homes should have a transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician.Additional storm tips as well as current outage information is located on duke-energy.com/storm under the “Outage and Storm Information.”

There's a chance for severe storms on Friday across Cincinnati.

Duke Energy, one of the largest energy providers across Greater Cincinnati, helps residents prepare for storms in case they experience an extended power outage.

Duke also recommends the following safety tips:

Before the storm

• Create (or update) an emergency supply kit to save valuable time later. The kit should include everything an individual or family would need for at least two weeks, especially medicines, water, nonperishable foods and other supplies that might be hard to find after a storm hits.
• Keep a portable radio or TV or an NOAA weather radio on hand to monitor weather forecasts and important information from state and local officials.
• Charge cellphones, computers and other electronic devices in advance of storms to stay connected to important safety and response information. Consider purchasing portable chargers and make sure they are fully charged as well.
• Pet owners should arrange to stay at evacuation shelters that accept pets; friends' or family members' homes; or pet-friendly hotels.

After the storm

• Stay away from power lines that have fallen or are sagging. Consider all lines energized, as well as trees, limbs or anything in contact with lines.
• If a power line falls across a car that you are in, stay in the car. If you MUST get out of the car due to a fire or other immediate life-threatening situation, do your best to jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Be sure that no part of your body is touching the car when your feet touch the ground.
• The quickest way for customers in Ohio and Kentucky to report power outages is by calling 1.800.543.5599.

• You can receive status updates on a power outage affecting you by texting REG to 57801, or sign-up online at duke-energy.com/outagealerts.

Generator Safety

• Always operate a generator in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines and instructions. Do not operate more appliances and equipment than the output rating of the generator.
• To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, never use a generator indoors or in attached garages.
• Only operate the generator outdoors in a well-ventilated, dry area away from air intakes into the home.
• To avoid electrocution, plug individual appliances into the generator using heavy-duty, outdoor-rated cords with a wire gauge adequate for the appliance load.
• If connecting into the house wiring is necessary on a temporary basis, homes should have a transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician.

Additional storm tips as well as current outage information is located on duke-energy.com/storm under the “Outage and Storm Information.”