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As members/employees of West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC), we face challenges everyday in our lives. At times, we take weather for granted as we live our fast-paced lives. We all know the weather can become extreme and dangerous in a matter of minutes. We live in the Panhandle that has been devastated at certain times over the years. I want to emphasize to all members and employees to prepare now before storms affect you and your loved ones. Prepare yourself for the worst. Ask yourself these questions:

• Do I have a back-up power supply? (generator, etc.)

• If I own a back-up power supply, is it in working condition?

• Do I have the supplies I need? (bottled water, nonperishable food items, flashlights, batteries, battery-powered radio, medications, extension cords, baby items, pet food, first aid kits, gas, cash and cell phones with chargers and back-up power sources)

• Do I have an alternate route to leave my home if conditions are worse than predicted?

• Do I have a family member that uses life-sustaining medical equipment requiring electricity or batteries? This specifically includes ventilators, oxygen machines, heart monitors, CPAP machines, nebulizers and others that I may have failed to mention. If so, please make arrangements and plan for extended outages now.

Shopping for these items can be cheaper during Florida's tax free holidays (August 24-September 6, 2024), but who am I to say wait? I recommend stocking up now if possible.

Always keep extra supplies on hand in case you need them. Electricity is a valuable resource and when it's not working, it's normal for us to become tense and sometimes, frustrated. Make sure the cooperative has your current
contact information on file - including phone numbers and physical addresses - this will assist in the power restoration process. The outage reporting number is 844-688-2431. Don't hesitate to report your outage. Everyone please stay safe during this storm season.

Sincerely,