How To Prepare For Days Without Power

12/9/2022 (Permalink)

During the winter, power outages are an increased risk.

How to Get Ready for Power Outages

During the winter, power outages are an increased risk. Ice on power lines, snapping trees, and more can break or down power lines and render your area without electricity for a time. Here’s how to prepare!

Store drinking water and food

If you're going to be without power for an extended amount of time, you'll want to make sure your water supply is stocked up. Storing drinking water in plastic bottles is a great way to ensure that it stays clean and safe. You can also store food in plastic containers or bags so that it will stay fresh longer—just make sure those containers are sealed tightly before storing them away!

When deciding what food items will be best suited for storage, consider canned goods (with airtight lids) as well as non-perishable foods like dried fruit or boxed cereals with no added sugar or preservatives. It's also wise to keep an eye out on expiration dates: if anything looks like it might not last another year after being opened, throw it out before the power goes out!

Turn off or disconnect appliances, equipment, or electronics.

Turn off the gas supply to your home. The next step would be turning off the electricity supply to your home. After that, switch off the propane supply at its source in case there are leaks in pipelines or tanks with no pressure relief valves.

Take care of your pets.

Taking care of your pet is a big task. The first thing you must do is make sure that they are safe and comfortable during power outages. Cats, for example, may get freaked out by the dark and will run away if they can't find their way around; dogs may become aggressive or destructive if they're bored or upset. Here are some tips:

• Make sure your pet has plenty of water. 
• Make sure your pet has access to shelter from hot temperatures or cold weather conditions.

Prepare to stay cool – or warm.

If you live in an area that is prone to extreme weather, be sure to prepare for the worst. If your home has natural gas service and your area experiences a heat wave, turn off the pilot light on your heater and make sure all gas appliances are turned off, so they don't spark a fire when electric service returns. Similarly, if you have air conditioning during a cold snap, make sure that it is off before electricity is restored so as not to cause any damage or leaks.

Have enough blankets (and maybe even an extra sleeping bag) ready in case temps drop below freezing at night; remember that wearing layers will help keep your body heat regulated too! 

Never use a gas stovetop or oven to heat your home.

If you have a gas stovetop or oven, never use it to heat your home. This is because any open flame can be dangerous and should be avoided. If you don’t have a portable generator, consider using a portable heater instead.

You should get things to prepare for a possible power outage

To prepare for a potential power outage, you need to have a plan in place. You should start by making sure you have plenty of batteries on hand. Have some candles and flashlights as well in case the power goes out at night.

With these things in place, there are steps you can take if the power does go out:

• If there is no immediate danger (like in the event of an earthquake), stay inside your home or building until officials tell people that it's safe to leave their homes. Do not try to walk around outside unless absolutely necessary!
• If there is immediate danger (like during a hurricane), find shelter immediately and stay there until officials tell people it's safe to leave shelter. Make sure everyone knows how they are getting home after school or work, so they don't get separated from each other if anything happens while traveling back home.

Conclusion

Whether you’re preparing for an upcoming storm or just want to be prepared in case of an emergency, these tips will help you prepare your Bloomingdale, IL home and family for a power outage.