Hurricane Helene: How does LG&E approach storms like this?

With any high wind event the risk of power outages goes way up!  Joining Tony Cruise with what you need to know, is LG& and KU's Liz Pratt. 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Okay, well we're tracking now. Tropical Storm Helen was a
Category four hurricade of course overnight down in Florida, and
as a result, apparently we're going to have some serious
well maybe not flooding, book a lot of water and
obviously a lot of wind with gusts up to fifty

(00:22):
or sixty miles per hour. That's why we have Liz
Pratt joining us from Louisville Gas and Electric LG and
E as we like to call him, and Liz, good
morning to you. How are you?

Speaker 2 (00:31):
Good morning?

Speaker 1 (00:32):
I'm glad that you were kind enough to join us today.
So let's start out with if we have these sustained
or at least gusting winds and power lines go down,
how do people reach LG and E.

Speaker 2 (00:46):
Yes, thanks so much. I appreciate the opportunity to share
with listeners what we are doing to prepare and what
they can do to prepare for themselves. So as we
as we continue to hear about the forecast and what
was perdicted. Did now with potentially the remnants of Tropical
Storm Helleen heading into Kentucky early on, we begin monitoring

(01:08):
the forecast, We begin coordinating with our fellow utilities and
contract partners, and also mobilizing our crews and resources. So
being LGN and Kentucky Utilities Company, we've got more than
forty crew centers around our service territories. So these are
the steps that we're taking to prepare and will continue

(01:30):
to do so as the weather starts moving through. Now
is a great time, whether it's you know today or
in the event we see potential storms in the future,
it's a great time to go ahead and take steps
to prepare for yourself and your family. That can include

(01:50):
downloading our online outage map. It's a great resource whether
you're at home or on the go to be able
to report and track power outages. And you can also
sign up for our outage texting which is another great
resource to continue to stay informed in any event you
do experience a power outage, as as you said with
the with the strong winds that are expected to come

(02:13):
through and the heavy rains, that's a great way to
stay connected and report your power outage.

Speaker 1 (02:21):
That's a great idea and great plan. By the way,
and for those of us who probably didn't take advantage
of what the ELGI need I was talking about during
the March one through first through us. The seventh that
was you know, preparedness Severe Weather Awareness Week. I think
that that's some good information. There's also a few other

(02:44):
things I think people have got to know. We always say,
do not touch down power lines. Just let LG and
E know you know what's going on there. You don't
really see that much of people doing that anymore, I
hope do you?

Speaker 2 (02:59):
You know what we what we want to ensure is
you know, if anyone comes across a down line, always
assumed it's an energized power line, report it, immediately, give
us a call. So during you know, safety is our
top priority. So in the event we are responding to
power outages, assessing damages, protecting down power lines, those those

(03:22):
are steps that we want to have people report to us.
So that way, it's keeping yourself, it's keeping others safe.
So any event you do see a down wire, assume
it's an energized power line, stay away and keep others
away and report it to immediate to us immediately. I
appreciate you you bringing that up because that is so
important because safety is our top priority.

Speaker 3 (03:44):
Always love when Liz joins us, she's spent on with
U Southern Kentucky Focus before and it's always fun to
talk to her, especially when you know we're talking new
cool things that they're doing in LGNE. And one thing
I want to ask you, Liz, how does that work
now with your crews Obviously they've come up here to
help us, you're going to say, and folks down there
for the benefit of our listeners who don't know the process. One,
how does that work? And do you expect to send

(04:06):
CRUs down south once we calm down here.

Speaker 2 (04:11):
So we are a part of mutual assistance partnerships. So
these are fellow utilities, as you said, who support each
other in times of needs. So right now, as we
are monitoring the forecast, of course, protecting our service territory
and being there for what the day to day needs
of our customers, potentially what we might see as part

(04:32):
of the remnants of the tropical storm, we are keeping
our crews here. So that's something that's continuing to be evaluated.
So depending on what the storm system produces here, we'll
evaluate that. But you're right, we've had utility partners come
to our aid in March, for instance, but also too

(04:53):
we have sent crews to assist with tropical storm response
and hurricane response, tornado responses. It's a great opportunity where
utilities pull together and partner in that way.

Speaker 3 (05:04):
So how soon do those conversations start, Liz, when you
have an event like this, are you talking a week out,
two weeks out, or how does that relationship start? Do
they or do they send out feelers to the rest
of the country and say, hey, look we need folks.

Speaker 2 (05:18):
You know, there are year round partnerships, so that process,
you know, participating in those mutual assistance organizations. But you know,
depending on what utilities might be seeing, if there's storms
headed their way, those conversations start happening. So just as
we begin monitoring the forecast here, other utilities follow that
same process as well and are starting to make preparations.

Speaker 1 (05:42):
Liz, we do appreciate your time so much. Thank you.
I know it's going to be a busy day for
LG and E and all the good workers that keep
us electrified so to speak. Thanks so much Liz Prad
doing this. Thank you, Liz Prad with lgne here on
Kentuck Edis Morning News and news radio A forty wha
Yes Sports with Scotty News with John All coming your way.

Speaker 2 (06:03):
Diepp in my heart, I Amorial camp Foot.

Speaker 3 (06:08):
Let them good. God, Rob, don't too ether. Check avenue
and then we'll take it higher. Oh no, I Rob,
don't do either.

Speaker 2 (06:21):
Check avenue and then we'll take it higher.