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Extended OutagesHow to prepare for an extended outage
Stock your pantry with nonperishable food items that do not need cooking. Suggested items are canned milk, fruit, and soup, cereal, peanut butter, bread, canned meat or fish, bottled water and soup. Also keep a supply of disposable plates, bowls and utensils, along with a manually-operated can opener. Keep your gas grill available year-round for cooking during an outage. Keep your automobile gas tank full. Maintain a supply of cash. Credit cards and ATM machines may not work if the power is out. Store adequate water for cooking and flushing toilets (especially if you are on a well with a pump powered by electricity). If you have enough time before inclement weather hits, fill the bathtub with water for use in flushing commodes and other domestic uses. Water heaters usually provide up to 40 gallons of storage. Plan for another source of heating in the event of a cold weather outage. If you have a fireplace or wood stove, keep adequate kindling and firewood on hand. Have extra clothing, blankets, or sleeping bags available. Keep a portable radio, a supply of fresh batteries and a wind-up clock on hand. The radio will bring you weather reports and updated information from CEC on power restoration efforts. Make sure that you have a corded phone available. Cordless phones will not work without electricity. If you have a cell phone, an auto adapter may be needed to recharge your phone. Plan ahead for alternate sources of power or alternate lodging if someone in your household depends on electricity to operate life support systems. Place your portable generator outside, never in the house, garage, attic, crawl space, or basement. Make sure your generator is connected safely; an improperly connected generator can cause serious injury or death. For more information, visit www.vaemergency.com. What to do during an extended outageIf electricity is the only source of heat for your home, go in and out of the house as little as possible during cold weather. Keep drapes and shades closed on the shady side of the house to keep heat in. If the sun is bright open the shades to warm the house on the southern exposure. Food will remain frozen for up to two days. Food will keep approximately one day in the refrigerator if the door is not opened. Every time the door is opened, the length of time food will keep is reduced. The condition and age of the refrigerator and freezer door gaskets are a key factor in the length of time food will keep before thawing or spoiling. Use a cooler to store milk, fruit and other frequently used foods to reduce the number of times the door is opened. In cold weather, the inside house temperature will have to fall below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for freezing of water pipes to begin. It may be helpful to open faucets and let them drip until power is restored. Turning the water heater breaker off until the water system is completely full again may prevent damage to the heating elements after power is restored. Layered blankets or clothing will keep you warmer than one single layer. Air trapped between the layers provides insulation to help retain body heat. |
Always keep an alternative source of light
on hand. Store flashlights, batteries, candles, matches, oil lamps and fuel
in a safe, convenient and established location.