IMPORTANT! Save Our Numbers for Text and Phone Alerts

On Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, at 9 a.m. Central, Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative members received a text from 833-417-5291. We encourage our members to save this number in their phones so that our messages are less likely to appear as spam or unknown. You may receive text notifications about important...
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President’s Message – June 2025

Be Ready for Storm Season

Dwight Van Lierop

Summer is almost here, and I’m looking forward to more opportunities to be outdoors doing many of my favorite activities, such as cooking out with family and friends and simply slowing down a bit to enjoy life.

Unfortunately, summer can also create the perfect conditions for severe storms.

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative (GCEC) crews are always prepared and standing by to respond should power outages occur in our area. When severe storms cause power disruptions, our line crews take all necessary precautions before they get to work on any downed lines.

I encourage you to also practice safety and preparedness to protect your family during storms and outages.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends the items below as a starting point for storm and disaster preparedness. You can visit ready.gov for additional resources.

  • Stock your pantry with a 3-day supply of nonperishable food, including canned goods, energy bars, peanut butter, powdered milk, instant coffee, water, and other essentials (i.e., diapers and toiletries). Confirm that you have adequate sanitation and hygiene supplies, including towelettes, soap, and hand sanitizer.
  • Ensure your first-aid kit is stocked with pain relievers, bandages, and other medical essentials, and make sure your prescriptions are current.
  • Set aside basic household items you will need, including flashlights, batteries, a manual can opener, and a portable, battery-powered radio or TV.
  • Organize emergency supplies so they are easily accessible in 1 location.
  • In the event of a prolonged power outage, turn off major appliances, TVs, computers, and other sensitive electronics. This will help prevent damage from potential power surges and also help prevent overloading circuits during power restoration.

That said, do leave 1 light on so you will know when power is restored. If you plan to use a portable generator, make sure it’s rated to handle the amount of power you will need, and always review the manufacturer’s instructions to operate it safely.

Listen to local news or a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio for storm and emergency information.

Severe storms can occasionally bring down power lines. If you see a downed line, always assume it’s energized and never approach it. If flooding occurs, never walk through areas where power lines could be submerged.

Advance planning for severe storms or other emergencies can reduce stress and anxiety caused by the weather event and lessen the impact of the storm’s effects.

Sign up for NOAA emergency alerts and warnings, and follow us on Facebook for the latest power restoration updates. If you experience an outage, though, don’t report it on Facebook. Instead, call us at any of our numbers listed on this page any time, day or night.

I hope we don’t experience severe storms in the summer, but we can never predict Mother Nature’s plans. At GCEC, we recommend you make a plan today, because storm preparedness is always our best defense.