How to Stay Safe During a Power Outage

Climatic weather changes have more people dealing with heat waves or severe storms. Combine the wacky weather with an energy crisis and you have even more people who have to experience power outages. Whether it is a power outage due to natural forces or a planned outage staged by a local power company, it makes good sense to learn how to stay safe during a power outage. The best way to be safe is to be prepared.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 medium to large plastic storage containers
• Flashlights
• Candles and matches
• Battery-powered radio
• Battery-powered clock
• Extra batteries
• Non-perishable food
• Bottled water
• Manual can opener
• First-aid kit
• Ice cooler

1. Use one plastic storage container to store battery-operated equipment. Keep a flashlight, battery-powered radio, battery-powered clock and extra batteries in this container. It might also be beneficial to throw in a few candles and matches as a back-up, though you should use candles as a last resort because they can be a fire hazard.

2. Stock another storage container with non-perishable foods and bottled water. It is a good idea to stock up for at least 3 days, and include at minimal one gallon of water per person. Make sure to stock necessary baby food and pet food. Also, store a manual can opener in the non-perishable food container.

3. Try to store both containers together in a designated spot in the home. A good place to store these containers is in a food pantry, where it allows for extra space to store food specifically for an emergency situation like a power outage. Also, keep an emergency first-aid kit with these supplies.

4. Keep a working flashlight in every room of the home. Finding a working flashlight during a power outage can be a stressful event; this is why it is important to keep a working flashlight in an easy to locate area of each room. Make sure to do battery checks periodically. Sure, the emergency power outage storage container has a flashlight, but can a person ever have too many flashlights during a power outage?

5. Start making recharging the cellphone a habit. Having a well-charged cellphone can come in handy during a power outage.

6. Utilize surge protectors. By using surge protectors for electrical equipment like computers, DVD players and televisions, it can decrease the chance that these items become damaged from a power outage.

7. Think about investing in a back up-generator. This may be a sound investment for a homeowner or someone living in an area that is subject to frequent power outages. Learn how to use the generator safely and do not run it from the inside of a home or garage, as this can be a safety hazard. Make sure to connect the appliances straight to the generator and do not connect the generator to the main electrical system of the home, because again, this is a safety hazard.

8. Keep the gas grill propane tank filled all year round. It can be used to cook with. Homes with gas stoves will be able to use the stove during the power outage.

9. Remember to think about elderly or disabled relatives and neighbors. They may need a bit of help during a power outage. So, check in on them and even assist them with stocking up and being prepared for power outage situations.

10. Be aware of the guidelines for perishable food. Typically, food kept in the refrigerator and freezer will still be good after the power has been out for two or less hours. Power outages that go on longer than two hours may require you to store food on ice in an ice cooler.

11. Leave one light on. By leaving one light on during an actual power outage, it will help indicate when the power does come back on. However, it would be wise to turn off and unplug all other sensitive electrical appliances in the home, because there might be a power surge when the power does go back on, and this can damage electrical appliances.

12. Keep emergency phone numbers on hand. Call the power company to inquire about duration of outage but do not call 911 because they will be busy with other emergencies and damage that the outage may have caused. It is also a good idea to use the battery-powered radio to monitor the news and situation in the area.

13. Make sure to conserve water use. Water pump systems used by the city are often dependent on electricity. So, overusing the water can cause major problems. Limit shower use, do not wash clothes and try not to flush the toilet often while there is a power outage.

Tips & Warnings

• Though a power outage may seem like an inconvenience, a little common sense can go a long way to keeping a person safe when they do occur.

[LilacGirl]

on 5/12/2008 You've written an excellent article with lots of good ideas.