Power Outage: How To Prepare ~
It’s one of the most power outage prone times of the year. Winter is coming and, although we are at the end of hurricane season, they sometimes still hit {as with Hurricane Sandy}. It is really inconvenient to go through a power outage, and it can be dangerous, so I have compiled a list of things that you can do to help prepare and protect your family during an imminent power outage.
These tips were compiled from the Red Cross, WSLS, the National Hurricane Center, the Weather Channel and my own personal experience.
What you should put in a Power Outage Emergency Kit
My personal suggestions..- Ensure that your laptops, phones and other electronic devices are fully charged if you are aware of an imminent power outage. You should try to keep these items with you at all times for updates and the ability to contact loved ones and ensure their safety.
- Familial contact information in list format in case you need it and your phones lose power.
- You should also be aware of where candles are in your home and be sure that you have lighters and/or matches on hand. A candle will only help you see if you can light it.
- If you have a landline phone, it is likely to work even when the power is out {especially non-cordless}. If you are in an area of the country with frequent power loss, you might want to consider investing in a landline phone, if you do not already have one. Keep one near you at all times during the power outage.
- Your family also needs to have a Family Emergency Plan which includes an evacuation route from the house with strict instructions as to where to meet and who to contact for help. Unfortunately, many power outages happen due to natural disasters, so these precautions should be seriously considered.
- Ensure that your car has a full tank of gas before the imminent power outage.
- Fill Ziploc Bags with water and put them in the areas between food in your freezer if you know a power outage may be imminent. They will freeze {if you do this early enough} and keep the items in your freezer {and your refrigerator, too} cooler, longer.
- Secure your pets in a safe location.
Other Items To Have In Your Power Outage Emergency Kit
- Enough rations to last at least 72 hours in the case of an evacuation and 2 weeks if you are staying in the home {longer if possible}.
- a battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- flashlight
- extra batteries
- non-perishable food
- a non-electric can opener
- bottled water
- first aid kit
- prescription medication and vital medical necessities
- copies of important family documents {i.e. medication list, pertinent medical information, deed/lease to home, birth certificates, insurance policies, identification}
- Swiss Army Knife or other multi-purpose tool
- personal hygiene items
- cash
For more information on how to prepare for a Hurricane or similar power outage, please refer to the Tropical Cyclone Preparedness Guide from the National Weather Service.
https://twitter.com/TheNewClassy/status/262660339404001280″ data-datetime=”2012-10-28T21:01:19+00:00
— The *New* Classy (@TheNewClassy) October 28, 2012
Do you have other power outage tips to share?
View Comments (36)
Good tips and useful to all! The weather is getting colder and storms are approaching, but we always need to be thinking about these things and have supplies on hand. I saw that Walgreens put out an Emergency Check list recently. My son and his family live in Florida and I am always asking them about preparedness. Do they have plenty of water...batteries...flashlights. Plus, with two small children, they started talking about losing electricity with them early to get them ready in case it happened.
Great tips! We lose power here even with small storms (we're right in the heart of Kansas) and once with a thunderstorm, it took us three days to get power back even though our neighbors was back on pretty quick! It sucked. The worst outage I've experienced was 5 days after a bad ice storm back in January of 2004. I was living in an apartment with my then boyfriend (now ex-husband) and his two roommates. The first night was fun, we ordered pizza and drank beer and played cards by candlelight. After that, it got too cold to do anything but stay in bed under the covers. Lasted there for 4 days before I broke down and went to my mom's.
Great tips! I lived on the coast for years and we had power outages during hurricane season. Now I live in the mountains and we lose power with snowstorms. It is so important (especially with little kids) to be prepared!
Great tips! Thanks for sharing!
I'll be sharing this with my husband as we prepare for Hurricane Sandy!
Good luck and stay safe!
Dawn
great tips and stay safe everybody on the east coast................
You did a better job covering this than our local news Thanks for the info we are predicted to loose power :(
Oh wow! I hope that you don't lose power - but it is nice to be prepared just in case you do. Good luck!
Dawn
Living in rural Vermont, we're always prepped for emergencies!
Those are a lot of great tips. Most phone companies today use VOIP which dies when the power does. I wish they would realize the importance of a basic land line and provide it along with the VOIP if necessary for times like these.
Great list of emergency items to have on hand. Thankfully we don't have too many power outages but it's always good to be prepared. I finally bought a non-electric can opener a few months ago but need to make sure we have candles/matches and a flashlight/batteries on-hand.
THIS IS A GOOD GIUDE.............STAY SAFE PEOPLE ON THE EAST COAST