We Energies preparing for high wind warning, storms Wednesday night

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- In an announcement Wednesday, We Energies stated crews are preparing for the high wind warning that will impact much of Wisconsin Wednesday and are asking customers to take precautionary steps before severe weather hits.

"The company is updating staffing plans to have extra field and contract crews available," We Energies said. "Workers are also checking the inventory of items such as poles, transformers and other equipment, and moving items to locations if need be."

Customers can help We Energies get a jump on power restoration by reporting outages via the free We Energies mobile app, online at we-energies.com/OutageManagement or by calling 800-662-4797 and following the automated prompts

For the fastest service, customers should have their account number ready or provide the phone number associated with their account.

We Energies says customers should make sure any loose items in their yard or deck are put away or securely tied down. Residents are encouraged to build an emergency kit that includes blankets, batteries, a flashlight and a battery-powered phone charger.

They also say if you come across a downed line, you should always assume it is energized. Customers should stay at least 25 feet away from the line and contact We Energies or local law enforcement as soon as possible.