Severe Weather Storms
Severe weather can happen anytime, in any part of the country. Severe weather can include hazardous conditions produced by thunderstorms, including damaging winds, tornadoes, large hail, flooding and flash flooding, and winter storms associated with freezing rain, sleet, snow and strong winds.
- Pay attention to weather reports and warnings of severe weather storms.
- If you have a car, fill the gas tank in case you have to evacuate
- Keep the freezer and refrigerator doors closed as much as possible. This will help food last longer in the event of a power outage.
- Charge cell phones and other devices that need to be charged.
- Make sure everyone in your household knows where your safe place is in the event of a tornado
- This place should be the lowest level of your home or a small room in the middle of the house away from windows, like a closet, hall or bathroom.
- Create an emergency supply kit for your home. Do not forget the needs of pets.
- Create an emergency supply kit for your car.
- Contact older friends, neighbors and family members to make sure they are informed and safe.
- Consider using a regular file backup service to preserve your digital photos and other important files
- Sign up for Thomasville TextAlert to report electric outages and receive updates through text messages on your mobile phone or device.
- Sign up for Thomasville Community Connect, a free, secure, and easy to use platform that allows you to share critical information about your household that will aid first responders and emergency response personnel when responding to your residence.
- Register for the Thomas County E-911 Emergency Notification System (“Reverse 911”) that allows the general public to receive dangerous weather condition alerts issued by Thomas County 911 on a mobile phone and/or through email.
- Stay informed and listen for emergency information and alerts.
- Report electric outages to Thomasville TextAlert or contact our Utilities Response Center at (229) 227-5499.
- Get to a safe shelter immediately. Examples of safe shelters include inside a sturdy building and away from windows, doors, and electrical appliances.
- At home:
- Don’t shower or bathe. Water pipes can conduct lightning.
- Stay in your safe place until the severe weather event has passed and it is safe to leave.
- If you are away from home:
- In a vehicle: Stay in your vehicle and call 911. Do NOT exit the vehicle until instructed by emergency personnel.
- If the vehicle is on fire, open the door, but do NOT step out of the car. Instead, jump completely free of the car with both feet together to avoid contact with the metal of the car and the ground at the same time.
- Around water: Get out of boats and away from water.
- Outside during lightning: Crouch as low as possible with your head between your knees.
- In a vehicle: Stay in your vehicle and call 911. Do NOT exit the vehicle until instructed by emergency personnel.
- Local authorities may not immediately be able to provide information about what is happening and what you should do. However, you should listen to NOAA Weather Radio, watch TV, listen to the radio or check the Internet often for official news and instructions as they become available.
- Steer clear of areas with debris and downed trees. Stay away from downed power lines to avoid the risk of electric shock or electrocution. NEVER TOUCH A DOWNED POWER LINE. While you may think it is safe, you are running the risk of electrocution. Report downed lines to Utilities Response Center at (229) 227-5499.
- Drive cautiously around crews working at all times and obey all road and work signs. This keeps our crews safe and helps them continue their work to restore your power as quickly as possible.
- Stay out of floodwaters, if possible. The water may be contaminated or electrically charged. However, should you find yourself trapped in your vehicle in rising water, get out immediately and seek higher ground.