Company Offices in Gulf Coast Area Will Close Today to Comply With Evacuation
Orders
FORT WORTH, Texas, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- First Choice Power, which
serves customers throughout Texas, is urging people living in the Gulf Coast
area to prepare quickly for the possible arrival of Hurricane Rita.
First Choice Power offices in the Gulf Coast region will close beginning
today so employees and their families can comply with local evacuation
orders. This includes the offices in Texas City, Dickinson, Friendswood,
Alvin, La Marque, Angleton, Sweeny and West Columbia.
The company's 19 other customer service centers located throughout Texas
remain open.
Power Restoration
First Choice Power customers needing to report an outage can call their
local transmission and distribution utility.
For customers in Texas City, Dickinson, League City, Friendswood, Alvin,
La Marque, Angleton, Sweeny and West Columbia, call Texas-New Mexico Power Co.
at (888) 866-7456.
For customers in other areas of Houston and Galveston, call CenterPoint at
(800) 332-7143.
The company is recommending the following to people who could be affected
by the hurricane:
* Avoid all downed lines. It is difficult to distinguish between
power, cable and phone lives. Assume any line you see on the ground
is energized and remain a safe distance away.
* If someone in your home is dependent on continuously operating
electric-powered medical equipment, make arrangements to relocate.
* Before lowering a television antenna or satellite dish, look up for
power lines. If you can't avoid a power line, don't do the work.
* Turn off all swimming pool pumps and filters and wrap them in
waterproof materials.
* Turn your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings the day
before the storm to keep food fresh in the event of a power outage.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a refrigerator will
keep food safely cold for about four hours if unopened. A freezer
will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it
is half full).
* Remember, if the power goes out, your electric garage door will not
open. If you evacuate your home, be sure to have a door key with you
so you can re-enter. To operate your garage door manually, pull on
the emergency release cord and push the door up using the lift
handle.
* Before the storm, turn off or unplug any unnecessary electrical
equipment, especially sensitive electronics, such as computers and
televisions.
* Check that emergency equipment such as flashlights, battery-operated
radios and backup generators are in working order.
SOURCE First Choice Power
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Related links:
http://www.firstchoicepower.com
CONTACT:
Valerie Smith, +1-817-762-7360, or
valerie.smith@pnmresources.com , or Don Brown, +1-505-321-8856,
or don.brown@pnmresources.com , both of First Choice Power
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