How to Deal With Winter Power Outages in Maine
All Maine residents learn at a very young age that winter power outages are not a rare occurrence; they are the norm. In a state that regularly falls well below freezing temperatures during the winter months, it is imperative to be prepared for such outages that can last for mere minutes up to over a week or more. If you have the proper supplies on hand, and know how to survive a winter power outage, a catastrophe can be avoided. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Warm winter clothing
- Blankets
- Generator
- Propane heater
- Kerosene heater
- Coleman stove or grill
- Water
- Canned goods
- CMP outage reporting line number
- Battery-powered radio
- First-aid kit
Instructions
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Dress warmly. Make sure your winter wardrobe includes sweatshirts, sweaters, turtlenecks, t-shirts, socks, pants, long johns, mittens, hats and boots. When the power is out for an extended period of time, warm clothing may be what saves your life.
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Cover yourself with a blanket. If you don't have access to an alternative heat source, a thick stack of blankets can keep you warm.
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Hook up a generator to your house. If you have access to a generator, depending on the size of it, you can run your furnace, fridge, television and so on. The most important thing, though, is to keep your house warm if possible.
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Use a small propane or kerosene heater. These kinds of heaters can be purchased at many department, home improvement or camping stores.
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Use a Coleman stove to heat foods. You can buy three-burner stoves that allow you to cook a full meal. If you have a grill, you can also use that to cook your food.
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Put your freezer foods in the snow. If you're freezer foods start to unthaw, and the air outside is cold enough, you can keep your food from spoiling by placing it in the snow.
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Keep a supply of water available. Purchase cases of water ahead of time, that way you don't run out and you can still cook and wash up.
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Keep a supply of canned goods available. Soups, stews and chowders are a great source of energy and warmth.
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Have Central Maine Power's outage reporting line number programmed into your phone if possible. If not, keep the number near your phone. That way you can report the outage as soon as it happens. The phone number is (800) 696-1000.
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Keep a battery-powered radio near by. If your power is out, you need a way to receive your local news and any power outage updates that are available.
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Keep a first-aid supply kit handy. If you get hurt during an outage, and you're snowed in, you'll need some basic supplies to get by.
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Tips & Warnings
If, for whatever reason, you aren't able to complete the above steps, you can seek help at a local shelter. They will provide you with a warm meal, heat and a bed to sleep in.
