Some parts of Whitehead will suffer a full power outage overnight from about 10 pm on Monday 24th March 2025 to about 6am on Tuesday 25th March 2025. This means some people will be in full darkness with possibly no heating overnight. Others may have brief power cuts while they are place on a generator. Check with any vulnerable neighbours, make sure they are alright and have all they need BEFORE the outage. This could be part of your PAY IT FORWARD for the week 23 to 30 March 2025.
Prepare now
🚨 Overnight Power Outage Alert: How to Prepare 🚨
NIE Networks has notified us of a planned power outage from 10 PM to 6 AM for urgent maintenance. Here’s a checklist to help you stay prepared and comfortable during this time.
🔋 Before 10 PM: Get Ready!
✅ Charge all devices – Phones, tablets, power banks, rechargeable torches.
✅ Prepare lighting – Have torches, battery-powered lanterns, or candles (in safe holders) ready.
✅ Stay warm – Fill a hot water bottle and place it in bed before 10 PM. Keep extra blankets nearby.
✅ Preserve food – Avoid opening the fridge/freezer overnight to keep food cold.
✅ Fill water bottles – If your water supply depends on electricity, store enough drinking water.
âś… Prepare essentials – Have snacks, medications, and anything else you might need. Get hot water in a thermos flask if you need a hot drink at night and don’t have any means of heating water. Consider how to safely heat baby bottles if necessary.
✅ Check alarms & security – Corded landlines may work, but cordless phones and those that use VOIP may not. Have a backup plan for any medical devices.
âś… Set a battery-powered alarm clock if you need to wake up early.
🌙 During the Outage (10 PM – 6 AM):
🔦 Use torches or lanterns if you need to move around.
🛏 Layer up if it gets chilly.
âť„ Keep fridge/freezer doors closed to maintain cold temperatures and keep food safe.
🔄 After Power is Restored:
⚡ Check appliances – Reset clocks and any devices that may have switched off.
🧊 Check food in the fridge/freezer – If it stayed closed, food should be fine, but check for any thawing.
🔋 Recharge devices & batteries for future use.
Stay safe and prepared! Feel free to share this post with others in our area. 🏡💡
NIE Networks provides the following advice:
Planned Interruptions – What to do
- Know where your household fuses and trip switches are located.
- Keep a supply of batteries for radios, torches and candles in the house.
- Have a battery-powered or wind-up radio to hand.
- Check on elderly or vulnerable neighbours or relatives. Customers dependent on electrical equipment for healthcare should join our critical care register.
- Make sure you have a charged mobile to hand with all important numbers stored
- Keep your freezer door closed and cover with a blanket, helping to keep it cold.
