Preparing For Power Outages
Posted on: 25 March 2016
If you live in an area where you are at risk of losing power quite a bit, then you should make sure you take extra steps to prepare for those outages as they come. While some outages can last only a few minutes and be only a minor inconvenience, there can also be those that last for hours and can be real problems if you aren't prepared for them. Follow the advice offered in this article to know that you are going to be as prepared as possible for your next power outage.
Make emergency kits
One of the first things you should do is to make emergency kits for each person that resides in your home. The kits should be put in a small bag that each person can fit next to their bed. This way, if the power goes out in the middle of the night, they can easily reach it. Also, if it goes out any other time, they will know right where it is.
The kit should contain a flashlight and a new pack of batteries, a few candles in some sturdy candle holders and a lighter. The lighter that's in the kits should be checked regularly to make sure it still works. You can use matches instead and keep them in a sealed plastic bag inside of the kit since they will last much longer than lighters will.
Make a plan
You should have a plan in place for those times when the power goes out after dark. If you have small children, let them know to stay where they are when the power goes out and to yell out to you, so you can safely come to them. If you have a smaller house, then you don't need to worry about a meeting place, everyone can just yell out what's going on. However, if you live in a very large house, then you may want to have a meeting place designated.
Have a backup generator
If you know your power goes out quite a bit, then you should really invest in a generator. The generator will keep some of the power in your house on, so you can see and so your food in the refrigerator stays cool. Keep the generator in a spot where it is very easy for you to get to and make sure everyone knows to keep that area free of clutter so you can pull it out quickly. Also, always keep a can of gas on hand to power the standby generator.
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