Power Outage Tips: What to do before, during, and after.

Preparing for power outages

As Hurricane Irma moves up from the South, there is no doubt that it will continue to cause destruction to the cities it passes.

The storm hammered Florida with 130-mph winds and flooding that knocked out power to nearly 6 million people.

The weather forecast predicts that the Category 4 storm will have little impact on the Lehigh Valley.  We are very fortunate for now, but more storms are on the way.

When there is a threat of a significant storm there are certain precautions we should take before, during, and after the storm. For example, power outages are a common nuisance we experience in the Lehigh Valley when a storm hits.

We put together a list of safety tips on how and what to do before, during, and after an outage:

Before a Power Outage:

  • Get together an emergency preparedness kit including a flashlight, batteries, and first aid supplies.
  • Have an alternative method for charging your phone or any device needed that requires power.  Make sure all phones and battery powered devices are fully charged.
  • Fill up your gas tank.
  • Make sure you have enough non-perishable food items and water to last a few days.

During a Power Outage – Safety Tips:

  • Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed.  Most food can stay cold for about 4 hours. A freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours.
  • In cold weather wear layers.  In hot weather wear light weight clothing and drink plenty of water.
  • Consider purchasing a generator for your home.  We recommend a whole home generator that connects directly to your home’s electrical system.  If you choose to use a stand-alone generator never run it inside a home or garage.

After a Power Outage

  • Throw away food that was exposed to temperatures more than 40 degrees if they have an unusual odor, color, or texture.
  • If food in the freezer is colder than 40 degrees and has ice crystals on it, you can refreeze it.
  • Restock your emergency kit with fresh batteries, canned goods, and other supplies.

There is often a little bit of anxiety when a power outage happens, but you’ll be well prepared to handle things for a few days because you prepared ahead of time. The peace of mind that comes from being prepared for a power outage before it happens cannot be measured.