STORM UPDATES:

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KEYS’ BUSINESS OFFICES WILL RE-OPEN FOR REGULAR BUSINESS ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7

KEYS' business offices will re-open for regular business on Thursday, November 7. Employees are to report to work at their scheduled start time.

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‍KEYS’ BUSINESS OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, DUE TO TROPICAL STORM/HURRICANE RAFAEL

KEYS' business offices will be closed on Wednesday, November 6, due to Tropical Storm/Hurricane Rafael. A determination about business office plans for Thursday, November 7, will be made by end of business on November 6.

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‍PRE-STORM – WHAT TO EXPECT

KEYS is prepared to restore service as quickly as possible if facilities are damaged by Tropical Storm/Hurricane Rafael.

KEYS has established priorities for storm restoration that are intended to emphasize health, safety, essential community services, and to restore service in a manner that will affect the greatest number of customers first.

Here’s what will happen:

Before the Storm:

• KEYS’ crews will work in the field to restore power until sustained winds exceed 30 miles per hour. If power outages occur once crews have been recalled from the field, KEYS will not attempt to restore power until the storm has passed and winds have diminished.

Dealing with Customer Calls and Power Outages:

• KEYS will accept phone calls from customers reporting electrical hazards and power outages as communication systems permit. This information will be sorted and prioritized for KEYS’ crews once they are clear to work in the field. In order to keep phone lines open, customers need only call once to report electrical hazards or a power outage.

• KEYS’ crews will work as quickly as possible to restore power. Emergency services will receive top priority. The time required to restore power to the remainder of impacted customers will depend on the extent of damage to KEYS’ distribution system.

Local Generation:

• KEYS has over 100 megawatts of local generation available. Generating units will be utilized as need once the storm has passed.

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PRE-STORM – GENERAL SAFETY TIPS

With Tropical Storm/Hurricane Rafael forecast to impact the Lower Keys, KEYS asks its customers to take the following safety precautions:

• Keep flashlights, battery-operated radios, extra batteries, canned food, and bottled water handy.

• Turn refrigerators and freezers to their coldest setting and keep the door closed. If the power goes out, this will keep food fresh longer.

• Use extra caution and be aware of overhead power lines when lowering television antennas.

• If you own a swimming pool, turn off all pumps and filters. If you don’t, water from the approaching storm could damage them.

• If evacuating your home, KEYS recommends all customers shut the main power off to their home at the main circuit breaker to avoid fires caused by rising waters.

• If your power goes out, use flashlights instead of candles or kerosene lamps.

• Do not touch fallen or low-hanging wires and anything they may be in contact with, including standing water. A seemingly harmless looking wire may still be energized.

• Keep telephone lines clear for emergency services. Call KEYS only to report electrical hazards and power outages.

• If you own a generator, follow the manufacturer recommendations and place it in a well-ventilated location.

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