Snowstorm creates outages across northland

An overnight snowstorm is affecting electric service for nearly 2,500 Lake Country Power members. Those affected are mostly located in the cooperative’s Mountain Iron service area, including Lake Vermilion, Ely, Orr and Crane Lake. Additional outages are affecting members in the Grand Rapids and Kettle River service areas as well.
Many trees came down on power lines from the heavy, wet snow. Line crews are replacing broken poles, too. The biggest factor affecting outage restoration is slow and slippery travel with poor roads.
All available Lake Country Power line crews are working to restore service. Lake States Construction is also assisting.
Members may call the cooperative at 1-800-421-9959 for more information, or visit the Outage Center online at www.lakecountrypower.coop or http://mi.lcp.coop:82 for a real-time outage status.
Lake Country Power, www.lakecountrypower.coop, is a Touchstone Energy® cooperative serving parts of eight counties in northeastern Minnesota. The rural electric cooperative provides services to nearly 43,000 members and has offices located in Grand Rapids, Kettle River and Mountain Iron.
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Tips for extended outages:
Make sure one of the phones in your home is not a cordless phone as these require electricity to charge, but also have a mobile phone for backup and charge it in your vehicle, if necessary.
Use a battery powered flashlight, not candles.
Keep a battery operated radio handy to listen for outage information and updates
Turn off electrical equipment you were using before the power went out
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Food should keep for up to 48 hours in a freezer, if the door remains closed. If the outage persists, cover your refrigerator or freezer with a blanket, make arrangements to store food at another location, or purchase dry ice.
Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
Essential supplies: flashlight, batteries, radio, extra supply of water, food.
Turn off and unplug your computer if you were using it. Buy a surge protector to protect the machine when power comes back on.
Keep extra water on hand in jugs or the bathroom tub for flushing the toilet as needed.