PSA for DIS'ers who use VOIP phone services

[lynxstch]

first..make sure you have a cell phone
second...program your Electric Co's phone # into said cell phone!!

At 4:52 am, we were awakened by a loud alarm sound..husband started hitting alarm clock, thinking that was it..I knew it was his oxygen machine's alarm..I got up..realized it was pitch black, that the AC and fans were off..and that we were in a total power failure..a quick look outside, confirmed that there were no lit streetlights, and the light over the business across the street was out..which meant our phones were also out, as we have internet based phone service..

I grabbed the tracfone we use for emergencies, the phone book, a flashlight and a magnifying glass..at 5 in the morning, I wasn't quite awake, eyes weren't focusing , and it took me almost 10 min. to find the elec. co's phone #..I finally got it, called them..got a recorded thing asking phone #, if total power failure press 1, etc...voice came on saying our phone # wasn't in any known power outage area..well guess what guys, noone in the neighborhood has any power..so I pressed the COMPLETE FAILURE option again..and another voice came on and said they would investigate..

About an hour later the power came back on..and soon the tracfone started ringing..it was a recorded voice at the elec. co calling back and asking if our power was on..if so, press 1 and hang up

If I had programmed the elec. co's number into the cell phone ahead of time, I could have saved myself a lot of aggravation!..believe me, it's in there now..lol!

 

[sbell111]

This seems like less of a VOIP issue and more of a "Something to do if someone in your home relies on electricitry for medical reasons". After all, you would have gone through the same drama if you had a traditional landline or (like us) only used cels.

 

[bumbershoot]

Very scary.

But I was just reading about this sort of situation, and you should make SURE that your electric company knows that your husband is on oxygen. They need to know the addresses with medical needs for electricity like that.

 

[lynxstch]

Very scary.

But I was just reading about this sort of situation, and you should make SURE that your electric company knows that your husband is on oxygen. They need to know the addresses with medical needs for electricity like that.

he's only on it at nite for his sleep apnea..and the medical supply place also supplied us with a non electic 'emergency' oxygen tank and set up ..just in case...but it wouldn't hurt to notify the elec. co also, just in case

Thanks!

 

[bdoyledimou]

Or purchase a $75 UPS device which will keep your router, modem and voip deivce online during a power outtage.

 

[Fire14]

he's only on it at nite for his sleep apnea..and the medical supply place also supplied us with a non electic 'emergency' oxygen tank and set up ..just in case...but it wouldn't hurt to notify the elec. co also, just in case

Thanks!

Notify them it will put your residence on higher priority to get power back up.