subject: When the Power Goes Out Are You Prepared? [print this page] When the Power Goes Out Are You Prepared?
Whether a blizzard, a thunderstorm, or simply random power surges its inevitable that your power will go out from time to time. It pays to be prepared especially in the winter when a lose of power can mean freezing to death. Below are some tips on how best to be prepared when the power goes out.
The first thing you should do is look outside at other houses to determine if the power outage is isolated to just your house. If the power is isolated to your house then most likely you've tripped a breaker or blown a fuse. Most homes now use breakers which can be reset by flipping them like a switch whereas fuses must be replaced once they go out. Just make sure you know where a flashlight is located in case it's dark.
So assuming now that you can see the breakers check to make sure they are all switched in the same ON direction. If they seem good, then try flipping them all off and then back on. If that doesn't work and the power is still out, what other products will help you wait for help? A headlamp is an essential, because unlike a flashlight, you can use it hands free, which is helpful when navigating in the dark. Be sure to keep it in a designated location that you can find easily in the dark. It's best to have a separate flashlight/headlamp for your power outage kit because odds are if you also use them on a regular basis you'll never be able to find them when you need them.
Other lighting solutions include candles, but be sure to keep flames away from any flammable fabrics like curtains. Storing a camping lantern in an easy to reach closet will help provide a room with a lighting source.
If you have an electric stove, cooking will no longer be an option. So how to get around the loss of the stove top? Many grills now come with attached gas burners. If you don't have a grill, invest in a portable gas camping grill. Some are small enough to fit in a pocket, and merely twist on to a butane canister to be ready. FEMA recommends adding a three day supply of non perishable food to any disaster kit. But keep in mind loss of heat for cooking and choose food supplies wisely by avoiding foods like dry rice or beans which require cooking to be edible.
Electric powered heat? With winter temps plunging to all time lows across the country, the cold is a definite emergency if the power goes out and in this case a backup generator is recommended or alternate non-electric heating sources such as fireplaces and gas heaters.
