Tips for power outage

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JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  The 773rd Civil Engineer High Voltage crews have again been battling the elements to troubleshoot a power outage on the far west side of JBER-E.

The outage occurred approx 3:30 a.m. this morning. Although there is still trouble shooting, it is suspected an insulator failed and flashed over on a pole near the corner of Fighter and Fairchild. Wind and icy conditions are contributing factors to this outage. The main area affected was west of Fairchild Ave.

At this time crews have been able to isolate and back feed using other High Voltage circuits to bring power back up to most of the area. Houston, Sunflower and New Sunflower Housing still have areas affected. High Voltage switching, due to safety requirements, can take some time to accomplish. Work is being done safely and deliberately to get power restored to these areas as quickly as possible. Your patience while we deal with this outage is appreciated.

This unfortunate occurrence serves as an opportunity to remind JBER-Elmendorf housing residents of proper actions to be taken during a power outage in your home, especially during the winter months:

1. Contact the Aurora Military Family Housing service call desk, 753-1051 to report the outage. Call Aurora's information line at 753-1023 to hear recorded status updates.

2. Keep all exterior doors and windows closed to preserve the unit's ambient heat. Only leave the unit if necessary.

3. If the outage should last for a few hours and your unit's temperature drops below 50 degrees, turn on your sink, lavatory and tub faucets to allow a small flow water to circulate through the system; this will prevent water lines from freezing.

4. Be aware that base police, fire department or Aurora Military Housing maintenance staff members may be going door-to-door to announce conditions or reasons for temporarily vacating the housing unit and referring residents to go to Base Lodging Office for temporary lodging until power has been restored to the unit and is ready for the family to move back in.

5. If lodging is used due to the power outage emergency; you will be reimbursed. Bring your paid lodging receipts to 673d Civil Engineering Squadron, 6346 Arctic Warrior Drive, along with a copy of our orders assigning you to JBER-Elmendorf, and a customer service representative will assist you in filing for your reimbursement.

6. If your personal property is damaged as a result of the power outage, you can file a claim by calling 1-877-754-1212, or visit the website at: https://claims.jag.af.mil/ Finally, it is a good idea to ensure you have working flashlights readily available within your home.

For further information, please contact 673d CES, 552-4312.