Power Outages – Tips to Stay Prepared

Power outages can occur at any time. In some cases, we are able to know if a power outage could strike, but most times we are unaware of when we will lose electricity. In cases like these, it’s important to be prepared for an outage, so that your chances of staying safe are increased. Here are some tips of how to prepare for an unexpected power loss.

• Always keep an emergency supply of different sized batteries.
• Make sure things that need to be charged are fully charged before a storm.
• Have battery operated or hand crank TVs and Radios on hand.
• Keep plenty of flashlights and lanterns around.
• Have candles and matches available.
• Make sure you have a supply of non-perishable foods, bread, and water.
• Look into buying a generator, and have gas ready to power it.
• Consider buying a wired phone for your house since those will most likely work during power outages.
• Keep your gas tank in your car full.
• After power outages be sure to throw away old food.
• Have an emergency first aid kit ready.
• It’s a good idea to have a cooler filled with ice on hand to keep food and water cold, and open your refrigerator as little as possible.
• Travel as little as possible since traffic lights will probably be out.
• Be sure to turn off any appliances you were using before the power went out to avoid surges when the power does come back on.
• Buy disposable plates, and utensils
• If an option does not require power, purchase that instead of a product that would require electricity.
• Designate a section of food in your pantry for emergencies only and don’t open them until necessary.