As Winter Storm Fern continues to forecast heavy snow and ice for our region, Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation (UCEMC) is monitoring conditions closely and is prepared to respond to outages. If outages occur, our top priority will be keeping our communities and our crews safe while restoring power as quickly as possible.

“Winter weather can create dangerous conditions, from icy roads to falling limbs and other potential hazards,” said Jennifer Brogdon, CEO and General Manager. “We are asking members to put safety first, limit travel and use extra caution once conditions worsen. If you see a downed line, stay far away and report it immediately.”

We encourage members to prepare now by charging devices, keeping flashlights handy, and making a plan for anyone who relies on medical equipment. If you use a generator, please operate it outdoors and away from doors and windows. Please avoid downed lines and report hazards to the appropriate authorities. We encourage anyone who relies on life sustaining equipment to have a backup power plan.

UCEMC begins planning as soon as severe weather appears in the forecast. Our storm team met Wednesday morning to ensure departments are aligned on storm preparation, staffing, and any specific needs across the organization. Leaders shared what their teams are doing and what support is needed so UCEMC can respond quickly with clear communication. UCEMC’s storm team will continue meeting until the storm has passed and restoration work is complete.

While snow can cause outages, ice is often more damaging because it adds significant weight to trees and power lines. That weight can bring down limbs and lines, and icy roads can make travel and access to repairs more hazardous. Even after precipitation ends, continued freezing temperatures and refreezing can keep conditions dangerous.

If outages occur, UCEMC follows a restoration process that focuses on restoring power to outages with the largest number of affected members first, then moves into smaller outages. Some isolated outages can take longer if there is extensive damage, limited access, or repairs require additional steps.

UCEMC is prepared to scale our response based on how this storm develops. We have mutual aid resources available, including contract crews and support from other electric cooperatives, to help accelerate power restoration. This is an evolving situation, and we will adjust staffing and resources as needed to restore service safely and efficiently.

Members can report outages using one of these methods:

• Text “OUT” to 1-800-261-2940
• Call our phone system at 1-800-261-2940 and press 1
• Mobile App: Login, select your account, choose “Menu”, “Services”, “Report an Outage.”
• Website: Click the “Report Online” button at the top of the page at UCEMC.com.
• Please do not report outages on Facebook as it is not monitored for outage reports.

UCEMC will share storm updates and restoration information on our website, and on our social media channels.

• Facebook- Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation
• Instagram- @UpperCumberlandEMC
• X- @UCEMCofficial

Thank you for preparing with us and putting safety first.