Here are some things residents should know in case of extreme weather.

Alana Antonelli is FortisAlberta’s manager of corporate communications. She says the main precaution people need to take is around fallen power lines.

Her message: stay away from them.

“With the wind that we’re experiencing in the province right now, we’re seeing a lot of trees … and branches come down on the lines,” Antonelli says.

“It’s really important that if you see a line down, that you stay at least 10 m away and call us immediately at 310-9473.”

“It’s a life-or-death situation so people really need to be cognizant of that.”

If you’re driving and hit a power pole, Antonelli advises you to stay inside your vehicle and call 911 and 310-9473.

She says that Fortis crews must de-energize the power line before first-responders can act.

“If your vehicle is on fire … don’t touch your vehicle and the ground at the same time. You have to hop away with two feet and hop like a bunny,” she says.

Power outages are being experienced all across central Alberta.

To see an interactive map on all the power outages in Alberta, visit FortisAlberta's website.

Here are some tips from the Government of Canada's website on how to deal with extreme weather.

What to do if outside:

• If you are caught outside and you can see lightning or hear thunder, you are in danger of being hit. Seek shelter immediately either in an enclosed building or a hard-topped vehicle. There is no safe place outside in a thunderstorm.
• If caught outside far from a safe location, stay away from tall objects, such as trees, poles, wires and fences. Take shelter in a low lying area.

• Some hailstones are the size of peas while others can be as big as grapefruits.
• Hail comes down at great speed, especially when accompanied by high winds and can cause serious injuries and damages.

• Wait 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder before going outside again.

What to do if inside:

• Before a severe thunderstorm, unplug radios, televisions and appliances (especially those that may start up automatically when the power is restored). Listen for weather updates on your wind-up or battery-powered radio.
• If you need to use the phone during a thunderstorm, use a cordless phone.
• Stay away from items that may conduct electricity, such as corded telephones, appliances, sinks, bathtubs, radiators and metal pipes.
• Consult our “Power Outages – What to do?” publication for more information.
• If hail is forecast, protect your vehicle by putting it in the garage or other enclosed space.
• Take cover when hail begins to fall. Do not go out to cover plants, cars or garden furniture.
• When a hailstorm hits, stay indoors, and keep yourself and your pets away from windows, glass doors and skylights which can shatter if hit by hailstones.