POINT PLEASANT — In light of the recent winter storm that hit the area as well as the possibility of more snow to come, Appalachian Power encourages residents to be prepared for any power outages that may occur.

According to a news release from Appalachian Power, the area along with much of the company’s territory have already experienced winter weather and are preparing for snow, sleet and ice. Customers who lose electricity should report the outage to Appalachian Power by visiting the Web site www.AppalachianPower.com or by calling 1-800-982-4237. In the event of a widespread power outage, Appalachian Power will post information regarding restoration efforts on the Web site. The outage map also is updated every three minutes.

Customers who call Appalachian Power and hear a recorded message are encouraged to leave a voice message regarding the outage. Also, customers can now use their mobile phones to report outages online at Appalachian Power’s Web site. When accessing the mobile site, customers can report an outage, receive information regarding major storms and can see the outages in their area. Outage safety tips and contact information also is available on the site.

Appalachian Power encourages residents to use the following tips when dealing with outages:

• Never touch a downed wire, and report the incident by contacting Appalachian Power as soon as possible.

• Prepare an emergency kit with flashlights, a battery-powered lamp, fresh batteries, battery-powered radio or television, water for drinking and cooking, instructions for manually opening power-operated garage doors and a manual can opener.

• Do not open freezer doors as this will keep foods frozen longer.

• Try to open refrigerator doors as little as possible.

• Disconnect major heating and cooling equipment.

• Leave one or two lights on in order to know when power is restored. Once power is restored, turn on appliances gradually. Electric utilities can have problems following outages as customer demand surges — this can cause additional outages.

• If temperatures are below freezing and the power outage is projected to last overnight or longer, consider moving to a shelter or in with friends or relatives who have electricity.

• If leaving the home, protect water pipes from freezing by turning the water off at the main shutoff valve and opening faucets to drain the water.