How to Prepare for Power Outages

Mother Nature is full of surprises - some of them unpleasant. Thunderstorms, Tsunamis, Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Ice Storms and other natural disasters can leave you without electricity. If you're lucky, your local power company will restore it quickly. In the case of major disasters, quick restoration isn't always possible. There are steps you can take to prepare for power outages.

When your power does fail, see if neighbors are also out of power. While this may be obvious in the case of natural disasters, outages caused by accidents or malfunctions aren't always so obvious or far-reaching. There may have been an accident or incident affecting only you. Locate your account number and call your local power company. Report the outage and let them know if it is community wide.

Before the power fails, assemble an outage emergency kit. Include at least 72 hours of resources.

Common emergency kit contents include: flashlight and batteries, matches and candles, at least one gallon of water per person per day, non-perishable foods: canned goods, granola and snack bars, a manual can opener, change of clothing, sturdy shoes, blankets, pillows, first-aid kit, duct tape, plastic, cards and games, and over the counter and prescription medications. Personalize the outage emergency kit to fit you and your family's needs.

If you or a family member are on oxygen or other life support equipment, your power company needs to know before emergencies arise. Have a back up plan in place. Make arrangements for transport to another residence, an assisted living facility or other health care facility.

When the power goes off, do not open refrigerator and freezer doors. A full refrigerator will keep food for approximately six hours. A full freezer will keep for approximately two days. Consider keeping extra ice on hand, along with a large cooler. When the power fails, move milk and similar items to the cooler. You can then access them without fanning the refrigerator door.

If you take shelter in a storm cellar or other safe area due to high winds and potential tornadoes, don't rush back outside the moment everything goes quiet. Maintain sufficient time for storms to pass. Keep a weather radio on hand, along with fresh batteries. During tornado season, store an emergency kit in the storm cellar or shelter if possible. Even if the storm leaves your immediate area untouched, power outages could result from damage in the region.

Avoid electrical dangers during power failures. Never use electrical appliances that have gotten wet. Don't touch exposed wires or cables in your home or outside. Don't go near sagging or downed power lines. If you do get a stand by generator, make sure the proper transfer switch is installed.

Practice generator safety. Don't operate a generator in rainy or wet conditions. Don't touch a generator with wet hands. Do not plug a generator into a regular wall outlet. Always use a properly installed transfer switch.

Be prepared for power outages. Keep emergency phone numbers, including the power company's emergency number, by the telephone. Report power outages immediately. Assemble an emergency power outage kit with at least 72 hours of resources and make arrangements for any family member with special needs.

During power outages, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Avoid electrical dangers. A little bit of preparation goes a long way. Mother Nature's surprises don't have to catch you unprepared.