If The Power Goes Out

By Ralph Winn

It's happened to everyone. Maybe there's a thunderstorm, or maybe a power line in your neighborhood has been knocked down by strong wind. Suddenly, the house is dark and silent, and you are sent stumbling through the darkness in search of a flashlight and some extra batteries. Being prepared can help you keep calm and safe if the power goes out. You and your family should have some basic supplies on hand at all times to make a power outage easier to deal with.

Basic Supplies for a Power Outage:

• Several high-quality flashlights. It's a good idea to keep a flashlight in each room of the house. Conserve the battery life of your flashlight by not using it unless it's absolutely necessary.
  
• A battery operated radio or portable television set. Especially in weather-related power outages, it's important to keep up with important news updates and listen for emergency broadcasts.
  
• An ample supply of batteries. Flashlights and radios are useless without batteries. Keep extras in the house at all times. Make sure you know where they are before you need them.
  
• At least one gallon of bottled water. In prolonged power outages, it is always important to have a supply of fresh, safe water. Keep a few extra bottles of water in your freezer, too, as an extra precaution.
  
• A small supply of non-perishable food items. Your pantry should be stocked with things that don't need to be refrigerated. Cereals, canned soup and vegetables, and other items can be essential when the power goes out. And make sure you have a manual can opener somewhere handy. Every member of your family should know where to find these items if the power goes out. Having these items in your house will help you to get through a power outage comfortably. Remember, if the power goes out, NEVER USE CANDLES. Flashlights are safer, and do not pose a fire hazard. In addition to having the proper supplies, you should also take time to make sure your home is prepared if the power goes out. Don't wait until an emergency to find out you can't get out of the garage.
  

Ask yourself the following questions to see if you are prepared to deal with a power outage:

• Do you know how to open your garage door if the power goes out? Find out where the manual release lever is, and then try it out.
  
• Do you have a high-quality surge protector for your home computer and other electronics equipment?
  
• Do you or your family take any medication that requires refrigeration? Most medications can be stored safely in a closed refrigerator for a while, but it's a good idea to do a reality check and talk to your family doctor about your medication.
  
• Do you know how to prevent heat exhaustion and hypothermia? If the power goes out in extreme temperatures, you should know how to keep your family protected against the elements by keeping hydrated in the heat and bundled up in the cold.
  

When the power goes out, it is also critical to be aware of food safety guidelines. Food safety is largely determined by the length of a power outage, so it's easy to decide when to throw away that frozen pizza or to keep that carton of eggs you just bought yesterday.

• If the power goes out for two hours or less, the food in the fridge is safe to eat.
  
• If the power is out for more than two hours, transfer perishable items like milk, eggs, meat, and cheese into portable coolers and pack them in ice (portable Styrofoam coolers are cheap, and make a good investment for situations like this).
  
• A freezer that is half full will safely store food for up to 24 hours.
  
• A full freezer will keep food safe for 48 hours. Following these guidelines can keep you prepared and stress-free if the power goes out.
  

Remember, just because the power goes out, you are not powerless. Make sure your family is ready for an unexpected power outage before it happens.

Ralph Winn writes about Security Systems and other related topics.