Storm Safety

Storms happen. Being prepared helps. 

Severe weather can happen any time of year. Whether you're preparing ahead or dealing with an outage, the following information is designed to help you stay safe and informed.

Before the storm
A little preparation today can make a big difference tomorrow.

  • Build an emergency kit.
  • Charge phones and backup batteries.
  • Know how you'll receive weather alerts.
  • Review your family's emergency plan.
→ Learn about outage preparedness This information is provided as a general reference only and is subject to change without notice.
If your power goes out
Storms can cause power outages. More severe storms like hurricanes or those with tornadic activity can cause widespread outages that can last longer than average—several hours or even several days. If you experience an outage, be assured that GVEC crews are working hard to restore your service as quickly as possible.

    • Text OUT to 800.223.4832
    • Use the MyGVEC App
    • Call 800.223.4832
    Please don't report outages through social media. Reporting directly helps our Control Center respond as quickly as possible.
→ Report an outage This information is provided as a general reference only and is subject to change without notice.
Flood safety
Flooding is the leading cause of weather-related fatalities in Texas. The simple decisions you make can mean the difference between life and death.

  • Never drive through water on a road. It can be deeper than it appears. Floodwaters can damage roadways, creating invisible sinkholes or washed out bridges.
  • Quickly leave your car if it stalls in water. Water displaces 1,500 pounds of weight for every foot it rises. It takes only 2 feet of water to push a 3,000-pound car downstream.
  • Don’t attempt to walk through rapidly running water. As little as 6 inches can knock adults off their feet.
  • Keep an emergency kit in your car, including a flashlight with extra batteries, drinking water and a battery-operated radio.
  • If you have a cell phone, program the number for police or fire department rescue.
This information is provided as a general reference only and is subject to change without notice.
Tornado Safety
More tornadoes strike Texas than any other state. Sophisticated warning systems exist, but they’re no substitute for preparedness and smart action.

  • At home or in the office, go to the lowest floor. Stay away from windows.
  • Go to a place in the center of the building, such as a closet, bathroom or interior hallway. Protect your head with a pillow.
  • If you live in a mobile home, go outside. Lie down in a ditch or low spot. Cover your head with your arms.
  • If you’re in a car, get out. Never try to outrun a tornado. Take shelter in the nearest building, or lie face down in a ditch with your arms over your head.
  • Know the difference between a “warning” and a “watch.”
  • Tornado Watch: Conditions are right for a tornado. Watch the sky.
  • Tornado Warning: A tornado has been spotted. Take cover immediately.
Tornadoes kill. Know what to do to avoid weather-related tragedy. This information is provided as a general reference only and is subject to change without notice.
Hurricane Safety
Any time a hurricane approaches the Texas coast, you’re likely to be reminded to take precautions. But the time for planning should begin well before hurricane season arrives.

  • Develop a plan for installing covers for windows.
  • Remove weak and dead trees and tree limbs on your property.
  • Know whether your home is in a zone that could be flooded.
  • Have a “grab and run” bag ready with important papers (like your homeowner’s insurance policy) and prescription medicines in the event you have to evacuate.
  • Have a plan in place for where you will go if you evacuate, the route you will take, and how others can contact you.
  • Have a survival kit ready with nonperishable food, water, a first-aid kit and other things you may need.
  • Keep a battery-powered radio handy. And don’t forget the extra batteries.
  • Don’t hesitate to evacuate, especially if you are living in a manufactured home or a house that may not be sturdy enough to stand up to the wind.
Find more tips for hurricane safety at ready.gov. This information is provided as a general reference only and is subject to change without notice.
Winter storm safety
Although much of the state is unaccustomed to snow and ice, temperatures can fall below freezing even in South Central Texas. Wet snow and ice can snap tree branches and cause electric lines to sag or even break.

  • Report any outages immediately.
  • Turn off electrical appliances that were operating at the time the power went off, including your heating system. Leave one light on so you’ll know when service has been restored.
  • Keep warm by closing off rooms you don’t need and use only safe heat sources like a wood stove or fireplace in good working order.
  • Do not burn charcoal indoors—it releases carbon monoxide, which is deadly. If you operate lanterns or fuel-fired cook stoves or heaters, make sure that you have adequate ventilation to keep harmful fumes from accumulating.
  • Practice generator safety if using one.  Never plug a generator into a wall outlet as it can “backfeed” electricity and cause harm to GVEC linemen working to restore your electricity.
  • Stay away from any downed power lines. Always assume it is energized, even if it is not sparking or buzzing.
  • If a vehicle is touching a power line, the occupants should stay inside the car and call 911 from their cell phone.
  • If a power line is on the ground, DO NOT go near it.  Shuffle your feet to move away from a downed power line, making sure not to allow your feet to break contact with the ground.
This information is provided as a general reference only and is subject to change without notice.
Stay aware and be safe
If you lose power, leave on a single light to alert you when electric service is restored. To prevent fires, please use flashlights during power outages as opposed to burning candles.

  • Never approach a downed power line.
  • Report all downed lines immediately to GVEC by contacting us at 800.223.4832, or call 911.
  • Stay away from flooded electrical equipment.
  • Use flashlights instead of candles whenever possible.
  • Use generators outdoors only.
→ Generator safety tips This information is provided as a general reference only and is subject to change without notice.
Downed power line safety
Weather and car accidents are the main causes of downed power lines. Always stay away and warn others to stay clear of power lines. Even if they don’t hum, spark or "dance," downed lines can be dangerous—they can carry an electric current strong enough to cause serious injury or even death.

  • If you see a downed power line, move away from the line and anything touching it.
  • The proper way to move away from the line is to shuffle away with small steps, keeping your feet together and on the ground at all times to minimize the chance for a human path of electric current.
  • If someone is in direct or indirect contact with the downed line, do not touch the person. Call 911 instead.
  • Don’t try to move a downed power line or anything in contact with the line by using another object such as a broom or stick.
  • Don’t drive over downed power lines.
  • If you are in your car and it is in contact with a downed line, stay in your car. Honk your horn for help, but tell others to stay away from your vehicle. Call 911 if you have a cell phone or ask a passerby to do it.
This information is provided as a general reference only and is subject to change without notice.
More Resources
Further information about emergency preparedness, storm safety, and natural disasters are available at the following online resources:
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