When the lights flicker and everything goes dark, most of us will spend the first few minutes waiting for the power to return. Rather than grumbling, get up and tackle these simple tasks to keep you and your home safe for the duration.
- Check to ensure everyone in the house is safe. Find your family members and bring them together in one room to distribute lights and other equipment. If it’s dark, use your cellphone flashlight to prevent injuries or falls.
- Retrieve your emergency kit. Check that your flashlights are operational and replace batteries if needed. Inventory your candles and LED lamps. Confirm your power banks and charging cables are ready for use. If it’s still light out, set up your battery-powered lights or candles in the most commonly used rooms so they are in place if the outage continues into the night. No emergency kit? Check out these nine power outage life hacks.
- Identify the cause. Unless the cause of the outage is obvious, like an active storm, check the circuit breakers to be sure they are all in the same position. If all the breakers are in the “on” position, turn off the main breaker and then switch it back “on.” If the power remains out, contact neighbors to confirm they are also experiencing an outage, or step outside and look for signs others on the street are without power.
- Call the power company. Report the outage to be sure the utility is aware of the issue and will dispatch a team to determine the cause and restore power.
- Unplug appliances and electronic devices from outlets. This will avoid potential damage from power surges when power returns.
- Secure the refrigerator. An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours, and an unopened freezer will keep foods frozen for 24-48 hours. Resist opening either until power returns and post a sign on the doors as a reminder. There are exceptions, of course, like removing refrigerated medications to store in a more controlled environment.
- Beat the crowd. Consider a quick trip to the convenience store or gas station to stock up on bags of ice, batteries, and bottled water while supplies last. Be sure to bring cash from your emergency kit in case credit card machines are down.
- Transfer perishables to iced coolers. If the outage is nearing the four-hour mark, transfer perishable refrigerated foods to iced coolers to keep them under 40 degrees F. No room in the cooler? If it’s below 40 outside, move your perishables to a shaded spot or to a garage between 32 and 40 degrees.
- Check-in on friends, family, and vulnerable neighbors. Call to make sure they are safe and to reassure them you are, too. Reach out to elderly neighbors who may need assistance.
- If you have a generator for backup power, run it outdoors and away from windows. Most generators run on gasoline, which emits carbon monoxide as a byproduct when it burns. Carbon monoxide can quickly turn deadly.