Preparing for Emergencies

     Power outages nobody likes them, nobody wants them, unfortunately they can happen any time, day or night.  And while there's not any way to predict when they will occur there are things you can do to prepare for and weather (no pun intended) a power outage. 

    How can I survive a power outage?

     The Boy Scout moto "always be prepared" is the mindset you need when preparing for an outage.  You don't want to wait until it's the middle of the night and stumble around in the dark to find a flashlight and after a bruised knee discover the batteries are dead.  You have to prepare an emergency kit and check it regularly to make sure everything you have is ready to go in the event of an outage.

     What do I need for an emergency?

    * Flashlights, extra batteries and matches. Keep them where you can find
      them in the dark.
    * Battery-powered radio.
    * Battery-powered or wind-up clock.
    * Canned or dried non-perishable foods, and a manual can opener.
    * A safe alternate source of heat and extra fuel (wood, kerosene).
    * Extra blankets and warm clothes.
    * One gallon of bottled drinking water per person per day.
    * A gallon of liquid chlorine bleach for sanitizing utensils and dishes.
    * A regular (not cordless) phone.     * Never use open combustion units (gas
      or charcoal barbecues, hibachis) inside the home.
    * If traffic lights go out, treat all intersections as 4-way stops. It’s required by
      law for safety.
    * Minimize driving to conserve fuel. You cannot refill the tank during a power
      outage.
    * Stay away from downed power lines and sagging trees with broken limbs.
    * Don’t get wet if you have no way to get dry.

 

     No. Thermostats, furnace fans and blowers all run on electricity.

    * Wear extra layers of clothes and use several layers of blankets.
    * Do not get wet if there is no way to get dry.
    * Drink and eat enough to preserve health.
    * Close off all rooms that are not in use and do not need to be heated.
    * To keep rooms warm, close curtains, shades or drapes. Cover doors and windows.

    * Don't burn anything inside your home without adequate ventilation to outside.
    * Be sure to have on hand enough fuel available for alternate heat sources, such as wood for a wood stove.
    * Never use gas ovens, gas ranges, barbecues, and most portable or propane heaters for indoor heating. These units use oxygen and create carbon monoxide that can cause suffocation.
    * Before using an alternate heat source, read the manufacturer’s instructions.
    * Have firefighting materials: dry powder, fire extinguisher, heavy tarp or blanket, water.

    * Don’t touch or get near any fallen lines.
    * Stay away from objects or puddles in contact with downed power lines.
    * Notify the utility company.

     Use generators only as independent power sources. Keep them outside and run a cord inside. Don’t connect generators to main service panels. This could injure or kill utility workers trying to restore power.

    * Use foods that spoil rapidly first.
    * Keep cold food cold. Use dry ice or an ice chest. In winter, store food        
      outside.
    * Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to conserve cold air.
    * If food is cold to touch, it is probably safe to keep, use or refreeze.
    * Discard meat, seafood, dairy products and cooked food that are not cold to
      touch.
    * Fruits, vegetables and food in undamaged cans are safe.
    * Food that needs no refrigeration: jelly, butter, margarine, ketchup, mustard,
      pickles, relish.
    * If in doubt, throw it out.
    * For information on food safety, call your health department or cooperative
      extension service.

     If the water from your tap is clear:

    * Boil it for 3 minutes. This kills disease-causing bacteria and parasites, OR
    * Add 1/8 teaspoon household bleach per gallon of water. Let it sit for 1/2 hour.

     If water is cloudy -

    * Pour it through a coffee filter and boil it for 3 minutes.
    * If you can’t boil it, filter it and add 1/4 teaspoon of bleach per gallon. Let it sit for 1 hour.  

     Unfortunately it is often impossible to determine when power will be restored during a system wide outage due to storm damage.  Crews will work to restore power as quickly as possible and often additional crews brought in to assist.
    But, there may be times when you will be without power for eays.  If you or someone you know has a chronic health problem talk to your doctor about an emergency supply of prescription medicine. Keep a 30 supply in your emergency kit. Be aware of the expiration date on the medication and rotate a fresh supply into the kit an a regular basis. If you are on life support, register with your utility company, and have a backup power supply on hand.