ORLANDO, Fla. — As people in Florida deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia, power outages are a big concern.
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It’s important to know what to do if the power goes out.
You should have a plan in place, and hopefully have your hurricane supplies ready to go.
LIVE UPDATES: Hurricane Idalia nears Florida as major Category 3 storm
Supplies include water, non-perishable food, flashlights, extra batteries and fuel for running a generator.
If you do run a generator, never run it inside or directly next to any structures.
Before any potential outages occur, make sure you keep cellphones and other mobile devices fully charged.
Read: Hurricane Idalia: How to stay informed if your power goes out
Devices with internet access can be used to check on power outage areas and estimated times on when things could be reconnected.
Here are ways to check on power outages in your area:
Florida Power & Light
Duke Energy
SECO Energy
Orlando Utilities Commission
Kissimmee Utility Authority
Power outages can be scary and unpredictable, but it’s important to remain calm and remember, safety first.
Never touch or go near downed powerlines and don’t consume food that may be spoiled due to prolonged power outages.
Read: 5 hacks to keep your smartphone charged during a power outage
Power companies around Florida have been stationed around the state to rapidly respond to outages and damaged equipment from the storm.
WFTV as a team of meteorologists and reporters providing live coverage of Hurricane Idalia on Channel 9 and TV 27.
Follow our Severe Weather team on Twitter for live updates:
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