How To Prepare For A Power Outage

Can you imagine being without power? While long term power outages aren’t common throughout the United States, your power grid could be more fragile than you think. Power outages can occur due to storms, natural disasters and cyberattacks, and can sometimes take weeks to fix. With that being said, you’ll want to be prepared for the worst. Use these tips from our electrician in Highland Park to prepare and pack a power outage kit.

Before An Outage

Before a power outage, there are a few things you can do to feel prepared, including packing and storing a power outage kit. Talk to your electrician in Highland Park. Make sure your electric company has your updated phone number and email address, so you can be served faster in the event of an outage. Next, be sure to develop a plan to meet any special medical needs you or your family members may have. You can discuss this with your doctor or local emergency management office.

Power Outage Kit

Here’s what to include in your emergency power outage kit:

• A simple water purification system or water bottles
• Non-perishable foods including but not limited to canned foods, dried fruit, protein bars, crackers or trail mix
• An adequate supply of any necessary medicines
• Hand sanitizer or baby wipes
• Flashlights
• Supply of batteries
• Transistor radio
• Cooking fuel
• Matches
• First aid kit
• Books or board games

When The Power Goes Out

The minute the power goes out, report the outage to your electrical company. Next, take these few precautions to make sure you are as informed and comfortable as possible. Turn off all appliances, including water heater, furnace, air conditioner, but make sure to leave one lamp on, so you are aware when the power is restored. Keep your freezer and refrigerator doors closed, since food can stay cold for 36 to 48 hours. Lastly, listen to a local radio station on your battery-operated to stay well informed about weather and news updates.

To learn more about power outage safety, contact our electrician in Highland Park by calling 847-832-0700 or visiting us online.