Preparing for a Power Outage
- Keep a first aid kit handy with a list of your family’s prescription medicine
- If any of your family members have special needs, keep a duplicate copy of their supplies
- Have a battery-operated tv or radio to get news alerts
- Keep a supply of drinking water & batteries to power your flashlights
- Have a disaster preparedness plan ready
- Keep important phone numbers near your phone (local fire department, paramedics, police, hospital, doctor, relatives, neighbors, sitters & friends)
- Keep flashlights in different locations
- Install surge protectors to keep valuable electronics and appliances safe in case of power surges
During a Power Outage
- Stay calm and make sure everyone in the family knows what to do
- Check power outage map online
- Report the outage to your power company
- Stay inside and away from downed power lines
- Don’t go into the water in a flooded basement unless you’re sure there is no danger from electricity in the water if the power comes back on
- Turn off major appliances until one minute after the power comes on
Terms Used to Describe Winter Storms Severity:
- Winter Storm Watch: Severe winter weather may affect the surrounding area within the next 36 to 48 hours.
- Winter Storm Warning: Severe winter weather conditions are on the way or will begin within 24 hours. Take cover and be prepared.
- Blizzard Warning: Blinding snow and dangerous wind chills are expected for several hours. Sustained winds of 35 mph are expected to sweep the area. A traveler’s advisory is issued if driving conditions are expected to be dangerous or slow moving.
Winter storms in our area can involve a lot of ice and snow. A properly maintained home will survive winter storms without much difficulty. A common problem to watch out for however, is a power outage due to fallen branches or ice on power lines. You can prepare for this situation by installing a standby power generator. A permanently installed power generator will automatically start working when the power goes out.
