News

Shepparton residents urged to brace for power outages

Jan 20, 2020

Shepparton residents are being urged to prepare for power outages, with more storms and heavy rainfall forecast for this afternoon.

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The wild weather this morning already saw some in and around Shepparton and more than 2500 people near Cobram lose power.

A Powercor spokesperson said crews will continue to work to restore power to customers impacted by storms over the past 24 hours.

"More severe lightning is expected to occur again today, with the storm system expected to peak this afternoon."

A severe thunderstorm warning and severe weather warning has been issued for Northern Country and North Central Forecast Districts, which includes Shepparton and surrounds.

In the event of an outage, stay clear of fallen powerlines and report them to us immediately on 13 24 12.

Prepare for Power Outages

Powercor has released a range of tips to advise how customers can plan for outages in order to stay safe and minimise inconvenience, as well as get back on with their day quickly once the lights come back on.

Following this guidance will ensure people know to stay away and report fallen powerlines, can access up-to-date information in an emergency, access drinking water and more.

Tips include:

Download the VicEmergency app, sign up for Powercor SMS outage notifications, and keep emergency phone numbers handy;
Recharge phones and laptops so you can stay connected with family and friends;
Prepare a contingency plan if you rely on life support equipment or need electrical items to care for babies, people with disability, elderly or pets;
Have an emergency kit ready with cash for supplies, first-aid items, medications, torches, candles, matches, a portable radio and heavy-duty gloves;
Back-up computers and phones to keep data safe;
Consider alternative power sources for water pumps and cooking sources;
Make sure you know how to open your garage doors and gates manually; and
In the event of an outage, take care and stay clear of fallen powerlines and report them to us immediately on 13 24 12

You can also find a wide range of practical written and video tips on how to prepare for summer here.

SES advises that people should:

Check that loose items such as outdoor settings, umbrellas and trampolines are safely secured and move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
Stay indoors and away from windows.
If outdoors, move to a safe place indoors. Stay away from trees, drains, gutters, creeks and waterways.
If driving conditions are dangerous, safely pull over away from trees, drains, low-lying areas and floodwater. Avoid travel if possible.
Stay safe by avoiding dangerous hazards, such as floodwater, mud, debris, damaged roads and fallen trees.
Stay away from fallen powerlines always assume they are live.
Stay informed monitor weather warnings, forecasts and river levels at the Bureau of Meteorology website, and warnings through VicEmergency.