Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management is preparing for tonight’s high winds by informing residents how to weather the storm.

The KCDEM reminds the public that residents experiencing a power outage should not call 911.  Instead they should call Puget Sound Energy’s 24-hour Emergency Power Outages number (888) 225-5773 and report your outage. The DEM also encourages residents to listen to NOAA Weather Radio or local radio KOMO 1000 AM, KIRO 710 AM or TV stations for up-to-date storm information.


Be Prepared. Have the following basic supplies on hand:

Flashlights, fresh extra batteries, matches, battery-powered radio, and battery-powered or wind-up clock. Always keep a flashlight where you can find it in the dark.

An alternate source of heat, if available, plus extra fuel. Safe alternate sources of heat other than electricity include fireplaces, wood burning stoves, and kerosene heaters used properly.

A supply of canned or dried non-perishable foods and a manual can opener.

A supply of bottled drinking water, one gallon per person per day. Conserve water, especially if you are on a well and the pump is not operating due to the power outage.

Extra blankets and warm clothes.

Life support equipment should have a backup power supply available. Register with your utility company if you use life support equipment in your home.

Keep a regular (not a cordless) phone in your home. A cordless phone needs a power source to operate.

Electrical Safety

Never touch or get near a fallen utility line. If a downed line is in contact with an object or a puddle of water, stay far away and don’t touch it. Notify the utility company of the downed line.

If the power has gone out in your home, turn off all lights and electrical appliances except the refrigerator and freezer. Wait until power has been restored.

Leave a single lamp on to alert you when power has been restored. Wait at least fifteen minutes before beginning to turn on other appliances.

Know how to operate your electric garage door when the power goes out.

Portable generators must be used only as independent sources of power unless the house has been specifically wired for. Do not plug a portable generator into your home’s main panel as this may result in serious injury or death to utility personnel working to restore power. Instead, directly plug in those appliances that you need to use during the outage (refrigerator, lights, heater, etc.).