Thursday, October 15, 2015

Although September was National Preparedness Month, it's still important to make sure you're prepped for a storm year-round.  This year, we are passing on some important tips on surviving a power outage with minimal hassle and damage to the electrical systems and appliances in your home from Eversource Energy, which provides electric and gas utility services in a number of states.

Before a storm hits:

• Build an Emergency Kit with essential items to meet the unique needs of your family. To help build your kit, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA.gov) has a detailed checklist available.
• Stock up on non-perishables, such as canned goods and pet food, and make sure you have adequate medical supplies and prescriptions for yourself and your pets.
• Pick up some paper goods: paper plates, paper towels, plastic ware.
• Turn the temperature controls on your refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting to keep food cold in the event of a power outage.
• Fill several large containers with water for drinking and also fill the bath tub so you have water to flush your toilet.
• Keep flashlights, batteries, candles and matches on hand and make sure they are available throughout the house.
• Have a battery-powered radio available.
• Make sure you have fresh batteries that are the correct size for the flashlights and radio. Be sure there’s a first aid kit in the house.
• Fill your car with gasoline since you don’t know where you’ll have to go. Your car can also be a good place to get warm, as long as you keep it well ventilated and don’t go to sleep while it is running.
• Be prepared to cook outside. You can use charcoal or propane grills or even a camping cook stove if the power goes out. However, never bring grills inside!
• Have extra gasoline on hand if you own an electric generator.
• Place a list of emergency numbers near a phone (landline, since cordless phones don’t work during outages) and in your mobile phone: Red Cross, fire, police, family doctor.
• Invest in an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). During a momentary power outage, the UPS will continue to provide power to your personal computer. (A UPS is not designed to operate a computer indefinitely, only long enough to allow users time to save their work and shut down properly.)

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