Preparing for and Surviving a Power Outage

Preparations

Before the storm hits, gather these items: flashlight and extra batteries; battery-powered weather radio and portable radio to receive emergency information; plenty of water – the American Red Cross suggests one gallon per person per day; high-energy foods that don’t require refrigeration or cooking, such as dried fruit, nuts, granola bars, cereals and canned goods; a non-electric can opener; a week’s worth of medicines; first-aid supplies; individually wrapped moist wipes for hand cleaning; extra baby items; sleeping bags, blankets and pillows; books and games to keep kids occupied; ABC-type fire extinguisher; plenty of food and water (and shelter) for pets.

In addition we advise completing these tasks: (1) If your family member relies on life-support equipment, make sure we are aware of this and please explore alternative shelter options. (2) Make sure a fuel-burning space heater and/or wood stove operates properly – and that you have enough fuel on hand.  For safety reasons, we do not advise using a gas-oven for heat.  (3) Check the batteries in – and test – all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in your home. If any of the devices are 10 years old, replace them. (4) If you have an electric garage door opener, it won’t work during a power outage, so make sure you know how to open the door manually. 

Survival

§ Turn off the stove, oven and other appliances (except the refrigerator and freezer, unless they’re empty) to prevent heavy startup loads that could cause secondary blackouts when power is restored.
§   Unplug sensitive electronic equipment such as computers, TVs and other home entertainment equipment to avoid damage to them when power is restored.
§   Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to prevent food from spoiling.
§   Leave one light turned on, so you’ll know when the power is restored.
§   Select a room on the warm side of the house away from prevailing winds to wait out the storm.
§   Keep curtains and exterior doors closed.
§   Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Remove layers to avoid overheating, perspiration and the resulting chills.
§   If you have an unvented, fuel-burning space heater, placing it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface—not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Cross-ventilate by opening a window an inch on each side of the room; it’s better to let some cold air in than to run the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Also, never leave a space heater unattended or within the reach of children or pets – and turn it off when you leave the room or go to bed.
§   If temperatures fall to near freezing in your home, open all faucets slightly so they drip. This minimal water flow will help prevent pipes from freezing.
§   Close off as many rooms as possible, unless you are using an unvented, fuel-burning space heater. Then you should keep the doors open to the rest of the house, to help prevent pollutant and carbon monoxide buildup.
§   Do not use your stove, oven, cooktop, outdoor grill, camping stove or any other fuel, charcoal, or wood-burning cooking equipment to try to produce unstable heat inside your home. The carbon monoxide these devices produce could be fatal within in a matter of minutes.
§   Use your fireplace if you have one. Otherwise, make sure the flue is closed.
§   Don’t use candles for lighting; they can cause a fire. Use a flashlight or battery-powered camping lantern instead. 

Use of Portable Generators

·    Read the manufacturer’s instructions and learn how to operate and shut off your generator before you need to use it.
·    Make sure the extension cord you use is in good shape and rated for a load greater than the total wattage of all connected appliances and other devices (125 volts x amps = watts).
·    Keep the generator dry, and don’t operate it indoors or in an enclosed or partially enclosed area such as a garage or porch. Generators quickly can produce high levels of deadly carbon monoxide gas.
·    Keep children and pets away from the generator when it’s running.
·    Practice power management. For example, when the power is out for several hours or longer, use the generator to run the refrigerator every few hours so food won’t spoil – instead of just powering lights in your home all day long.
·    Give your generator several breaks during the day. Most portable generators aren’t designed to run 24/7, so shut down your unit several times a day to let it cool down.
·    Always switch the engine off and allow it to cool before adding fuel in a well-ventilated area. Take care not to contaminate the fuel tank with dirt or water.
·    Turn off the generator’s circuit breaker before starting, so the load doesn’t draw current until the generator is running smoothly. Turn off the breaker before stopping the generator.
·    Test the ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) on the generator every time you fire up the engine.

Arrange for a neighbor to let you know when power has been restored.  During high volume outages, the cooperative may not have the time to notify individual generator users as their power is restored.