Plan ahead — Black Hills Energy encourages emergency preparedness

Black Hills Energy is encouraging customers to prepare for severe weather and other emergencies during National Preparedness Month in September.

The company recommends that families create an evacuation plan, choose a meeting place and assemble an emergency kit with enough food, water and supplies for people and pets for at least three days. Kits should also include medications, important documents, emergency contacts, chargers, cash and other essentials.

Customers should also check smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers.

Anyone who smells natural gas — often described as a rotten egg odor — should leave the area immediately and call 911 from a safe location. People should avoid using phones, electrical devices or light switches near a suspected leak.

Black Hills Energy also reminds residents to contact 811 at least 48 hours before beginning fall planting,
landscaping or other digging projects.

More preparedness information is available at blackhillsenergy.com/be-prepared.

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