POWER OUTAGE TIPS

​

Create a plan for your family. Your family might not be together when a power outage occurs. That’s why it is important to have a plan in place. Talk about how you will reach each other. If someone in your home is dependent on electric-powered, life-sustaining equipment, remember to include back-up power in your evacuation plan.

​

Prepare an emergency kit. The below listed items should be part of your basic emergency kit and kept in a container that can be easily carried. Use the Family Safety Guide as a reference to gather additional items important to your family.

​

•  Water and canned or dried food - families should set aside one gallon of water per person per day, to last three days, and a  three-day supply of food per person. The food should be nonperishable items that don’t need to be cooked, such as tuna and crackers. Remember to include a manual can opener. If there’s an infant in the house, include formula and baby food.

•  Battery powered radio

•  Flashlight

•  Extra batteries for the radio and flashlight

•  Prescription medications

•  First-aid kit

•  Corded telephone – it will likely work when the power is out
   

Listen for information about what to do and where to go during an actual emergency. City, county, and state officials have developed emergency plans.

​

Turn off and unplug all unnecessary electrical equipment, including sensitive electronics. Turn off or disconnect any appliances, equipment or electronics you were using when the power went out. When the power comes back on, surges or spikes may damage the items. Leave a light turned on so you’ll know when the power comes back on.

Do not touch any electrical power lines and keep your family away from them. Report downed power lines to the appropriate officials.

​

Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Use perishable food from your refrigerator first. An unopened refrigerator will keep foods cold for about four hours. Never taste food or rely on appearance or odor to determine safety. Some foods may look or smell fine, but if they have been at room temperature for too long, bacteria causing food-borne illnesses can start growing quickly. Some bacteria produce toxins that cannot be destroyed by cooking. When in doubt, throw it out!! If food in the freezer is colder than 40 degrees and has ice crystals on it, you can refreeze it. Food in an unopened freezer can last up to three days (depending on the outside temperature).

​

Install carbon monoxide alarms on every level of your home and outside bedrooms. If the carbon monoxide alarm sounds, leave the home immediately. NEVER use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning devices inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or any other partially enclosed area.