With storm season now upon us, it’s time to start taking the usual precautions. PG and E Spokesperson Brandi Ehlers-Merlo says there are at least a couple of easy things you can do…

click to listen to Brandi Ehlers-Merlo

And Merlo says if you have a cordless phone or answering machine that requires electricity to work, have a standard telephone or cell phone ready as a backup. Also, keep your cell phone charged, and have a portable charging device handy. And should an outage occur, if you must use candles, keep them away from drapes, lampshades, and small children….

click to listen to Brandi Ehlers-Merlo

Merlo says you should also sign up for PG and E’s outage alerts, which provide customer updates, via phone calls, texts, or e-mails. Also, check to see if neighbors are affected. This will confirm if an outage is impacting the neighborhood, or just your home. And if you don’t see your outage listed on PG and E’s outage maps, report it to their information line at 1-800-743-5002. But their phone lines become very busy during major storms.