MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — First Energy is preparing for the latest dose of winter weather, and they are passing on some helpful advice to help families prepare.

Spokesman Will Boye said they are bringing extra help into the region to prepare for the worst while they monitor the track of the storm.

“We’re keeping a close eye on the forecast with our in-house meteorologist tracking the potential for severe weather this weekend,” Boye said. “To stay ahead of the weather, we’ve increased our staffing, and we have crews ready 24/7 in case outages do occur.”

The forecast has changed to include the possibility of wet, heavy snow or even rain, which is a huge concern for First Energy crews. Now, watching the forecast and the actual event to pinpoint those areas in order to prepare will be the next task.

“Just a few inches of wet heavy snow or ice can cling to equipment and vegetation,” Boye said. “It really increases the risk of broken branches and downed lines.”

To prepare, Boye said to have a supply of nonperishable food, a can opener, and a portable radio with extra batteries. Remember that temporary generators cannot be operated in a home or garage; they must be kept outside with plenty of ventilation.

“Make sure your electronic devices are fully charged—cell phones, laptops, or tablets,” Boye said. “You’ll also want a car charger ready to charge your devices if your power is out.”

Temporary heat sources can be very dangerous and shouldn’t be used in the event of an emergency. Families should prepare for travel to be limited and few available options in the event of an emergency.

“Make sure you have some extra blankets or a sleeping bag for each person, a first aid kit, and bottled water,” Boye said. ” And food and water- It’s always a good idea to have an extra supply of bottled water.”

If you do experience an outage, call 1-888-LIGHTS or 1-888-544-4877 as soon as possible to begin the restoration process and to let First Energy workers know where the problems are. Outages can also be reported on the FirstEnergy website as well.

“That helps to know where the outages are so we can track them more accurately and restore power to the customers who need it,” Boye said. “So, please let us know if you have an outage—don’t assume we know.”