Special to Iredell Free News

EnergyUnited staff are closely monitoring weather forecasts as Tropical Storm Ian approaches the Carolinas. The storm caused catastrophic loss in Florida.

The cooperative is prepare for systemwide impacts across EnergyUnited’s service area. While the impact is expected to be widespread, EnergyUnited crews are ready to respond to any outages as soon as conditions are safe for restoration efforts to begin.

EnergyUnited also encourages its members to follow all necessary steps to prepare for the storm.

• Visit our Storm Preparation page for important information to help keep you safe before, during and after the storm.

• To report an outage, please use the cooperative’s web or mobile app, My EnergyHub, or call 1-800-EUNITED (1-800-386-4833).

• Real-time outage numbers can be found on our Outage Map.

After a major storm passes, EnergyUnited prioritizes its response to the largest outages in an effort restore power to the most members as safely and quickly as possible. To learn more about our steps to restoring power, please take a few minutes to watch this video.

As always, safety is the cooperative’s top priority. It is important to remember to always stay away from all downed lines. Always assume that any line you see, on the ground or overhead, is energized and deadly. Call our customer care center at 1-800-522-3793 to report such safety hazards.

Never use a portable generator indoors, due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Portable generators should only be used in well-ventilated areas, when necessary to power essential equipment.

Please avoid all travel if possible during the storm and avoid roads that are unsafe. In the event that our cooperative experiences any major outages, please rest assured that crews will work around the clock to restore power to all members as safely and quickly as possible.

About EnergyUnited

EnergyUnited Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) is the largest electric cooperative in North Carolina serving more than 135,000 metering points. Headquartered in Statesville, EnergyUnited provides electric service in portions of nineteen counties in west central North Carolina which include Alexander, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stokes, Wilkes and Yadkin. To learn more about the cooperative’s energy services and community programs, visit energyunited.com.