CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Appalachian Power is working to strategically stage employees and contractors in preparation for winter weather that meteorologists forecast could blanket the area with ½-inch of ice and up to 8 inches of snow by Monday.

 Forecasters say an arctic front will bring a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Within Appalachian’s service territory, much of the ice is predicted to hit West Virginia, with rain and snow expected in much of Virginia and Tennessee.

“Ice is one of the most damaging weather events for our electric system because its weight brings down trees and power lines, and inhibits our ability to access areas with damage,” said Phil Wright, Appalachian Power vice president distribution. “We have been monitoring the weather conditions closely and are taking steps to speed restoration should outages occur.”

Appalachian Power secured nearly 600 line workers and damage assessors from outside its service area to assist with service restoration. Those workers are now in place and ready to assist with service restoration. It is likely that outage numbers will begin to grow late tonight and into Monday morning. Some crews will respond through the night to critical situations, such as downed lines blocking roads. The remainder will begin restoration work at daybreak as road conditions permit.

Customers who do lose service can report their outage by calling the company’s customer service center toll-free at 1-800-982-4237 in West Virginia or 1-800-956-4237 in Virginia.  During times of high call volume, callers may hear a recorded message and can leave a voice message about the outage.

Customers can prepare for outages by assembling an emergency kit. Include flashlights and batteries; battery-powered radios or televisions; candles, matches, or lighters; water for drinking and cooking; a portable heater; camping equipment; and canned goods and a manual can opener. Also keep cell phones and laptops fully charged and include a car charger in the kit.