People are likely to experience a handful of power outages during their lifetimes, especially so during the winter. Storms and adverse weather can increase the potential for power outages to occur, so it’s important to be prepared for the possibility. Here are a few key things you can do to be prepared for a power outage:
Emergency Supplies
If a storm has caused a power outage, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to get to the store, even to grab basic food items. Prepare ahead of time for a power outage or storm by keeping emergency supplies on hand. You can store these items in backpacks or containers underneath beds or in closets. Aim to have enough food and water to last 72 hours per person in the household. Non-perishable items such as beef jerky, peanut butter, crackers, oatmeal and applesauce are all good items to keep in your supplies. Take careful note of expiration dates and be sure to empty and refill your supplies regularly as needed. In addition to food and water, important items to keep in your emergency storage include candles, matches, flashlights, batteries, blankets and a first-aid kit.
Food Safety
If your power stays out for an extended amount of time, it’s likely that a good portion of your refrigerated and frozen foods will not survive the outage. To preserve the foods as long as possible, avoid opening the refrigerator and freezer during the power outage. Many of the frozen foods will be able to survive for 1-2 days, depending on how full your freezer is. The more tightly packed the space is, the longer the items will stay safely chilled. For refrigerated foods, if you have ice on hand you can pack the items in a cooler. If your power outage is caused by a snow storm, make use of the frozen resource and pack the cooler with snow!
Temperature
Whether it’s the middle of summer in Arizona or the middle of winter in Minnesota, if the power goes out the temperature can pose hazardous to you and the people in your household. If you are in a heated environment and your power goes out — and along with it, the AC — it’s best to escape the home and stay elsewhere for the night. In high temperatures, it is key to remain properly hydrated. Pay close attention to any dizziness or light-headedness, as these are symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. In cold weather, the biggest risk is hypothermia. There are many details to treating a person affected by hypothermia, including not rubbing or massaging their frozen skin. It is a good idea to keep a list or booklet of these instructions with your first-aid kit.
If your power outages are caused by an electrical problem rather than weather conditions, don’t hesitate to use BidBoomerang to locate qualified electricians in Mesa AZ.
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