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
- 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
How To Prepare Yourself and Your Family For An Imminent Power Outage + What To Put In An Emergency Kit @thenewclassy cheapisthenewclassy.com/2012/10/power-…
— The *New* Classy (@TheNewClassy) October 28, 2012
— The *New* Classy (@TheNewClassy) October 28, 2012
Do you have other power outage tips to share?
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
We had an unplanned power outage last week and it was nothing serious, just a few hours, but it made me realize how unprepared we are!
I am sick to my stomach over this extreme weather! It is great that you posted this so that we can be prepared when it is so very important. We have lived through a long outage and it was very difficult and we were not prepared. I need to make a good kit for the coming winter months – thanks for reminding me and getting me going on this!
These are great tips. I am originally from New Orleans so I know how dangerous hurricanes can be! For all those in Sandys path… stay safe!!!
This is our first year in a home that does not have City Water and so we lose the water when the electricity goes out ! We have been filling containers like crazy all week !
Smart post to do!! I’m in Rhode Island and the wind is blowing like crazy!!! I’ll be sure to keep these tips in mind!
I’m in Va. keeping my fingers crossed. When a storm comes through and we lose power it’s down for a couple of weeks!
It is definitely a great idea to have an emergency kit put together for power outages!
I know, I know. I keep saying we need to have an emergency kit ready but I keep putting it off. I better get to it!
These are all great ideas and tips. Thanks for sharing. I and sending this to my friends and family on the east coast.
This is some great information. We ended up purchasing a generator for power. But I do keep all things handy just in case.
We are definitely considering buy a generator. 🙂
Dawn
Seems like the perfect timing for this post!!!
great tips that can be used all the time, not just in bad weather seasons.
Found some really great tips here! I especially liked the one about putting water in ziplocks and keeping them is your freezer!
I hope everyone has their power on but also another tip is to put al your fridge and freezer items in plastic shopping bags prior to outage. If you lose power while evacuating the food will be easier to trash and keep smell down in your house.
Glad that ordeal is over, but glad we had ample time to prepare!!!
Those are great tips. It’s important to remember these things ahead of time to be prepared. Thanks!
Great tips! We’ve been lucky to not have very many power outages, so I’ve never really thought ahead, but I’m going to make it a priority to be prepared in the future … thanks for sharing these tips!
Some great tips. We love our Crank/Solar radio, it is essential in an emergency, or even a planned outage. We had a bunch of rolling outages last summer!
Great tips! I live on a hospital grid so my power never goes out… or so I thought. I totally need to put a kit together because late last year a power station exploded and I lost my power in a citywide black out. It was only for like 4 hours, but I seriously had no idea what to do b/c I”m not well prepared 🙁 I really do need to put a kit together. Thanks!
It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Dawn
Very good ideas. I always think I should prepare better and then remember that I DID NOT prepare when the power actually goes out. LOL! I need to print this article and put it on my fridge as a reminder.
Love the tips. an you just never know when you might need them. And I will start by charging my laptop everyday
When I lived up North My Preparation Kit was a lot more intense during the winter in case the lights went out but I still have stand bys now that I live in the warmer climates.
Thanks for the tips!! We have hurricanes in New England, so I am used to getting prepared!