With severe weather expected to impact much of the state tonight, power companies across the state are preparing to battle power outages.

The storm system, which generated winds of up to 100 mph as it moved through north and central Alabama early this morning and downed trees and damaged homes, left approximately 270,000 Alabama Power customers in north and central Alabama without power.

With the possibility of power outages looming, Alabama Power officials shared some storm preparation tips.

Before the storm

1.  Charge cell phones, pagers and other electronic devices.

2.  Have several flashlights with extra batteries on hand, as well as a first-aid kit.

3.  Have on hand a three-day minimum supply of water – one gallon per person per day, plus three days’ supply of food and drink that does not have to be refrigerated.

4.  Use a battery-operated weather radio to stay informed.

5.  Turn down the thermostat to cool your house. If you keep doors and windows closed after the storm, you can keep your house relatively cool for about 48 hours.

6.  Seek shelter inside a sturdy building. In the event of a tornado, the safest place is on the lowest level. Choose a small room with no windows, such as an interior closet, hallway or bathroom.

After the storm

1.  Turn off appliances to avoid any potential safety hazards when power is restored.

2.  Stay away from downed lines. Do not drive over lines or under low-hanging lines. Keep children and pets away from downed lines. Do not attempt to remove tree limbs or anything else caught in power lines. Contact a local law enforcement agency if downed lines are spotted.