Power has been restored to about 3,000 customers in Jim Thorpe and Penn Forest Township following an outage caused by strong and sustained winds early Monday evening.

Jane George, regional affairs director, PPL, said all customers had their power restored by 12:50 a.m. Tuesday.

“We realize that it is never easy to be without power, and we encourage our customers to stay connected, get prepared and stay safe,” George said.

George said it’s important for customers to stay connected and report any power outages online at pplelectric.com or text “Outage” to TXTPPL (898775).

Customers may also sign up for alerts to stay connected and receive outage updates at pplelectric.com/alerts.??

Check the status of an outage and estimated restoration times online at pplelectric.com/outage.??

For information on storm safety, outage restoration priorities and more, visit pplelectric.com/outage. ?

George also urged customers to get prepared by making sure their mobile devices are fully charged before a storm event; having an emergency kit with food, water, medication and any pet supplies needed; people who have medical conditions requiring electricity should create a plan in case of an outage or emergency; and to check on elderly family members, neighbors and others who may need assistance during an outage period.

She said they should also stay safe, and in the event they encounter a downed wire at any time, assume it’s energized and stay away. Also report downed wires to PPL Electric or local emergency response agencies.

If using a portable generator during a power outage, never operate the generator in an enclosed area, like a garage, where deadly carbon-monoxide fumes could accumulate.

Remember that candles can start fires. Always use flashlights instead.

If you lose power, turn off any appliances that were on when the power went off.

For your safety and the safety of PPL, keep a safe distance from PPL crews.