Weather Preparedness
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Safety First!
From hurricanes to floods to extreme winter storms, natural disasters can have devastating effects on homes. That’s what makes severe weather preparedness so essential. Get all the advice you need on summer and winter weather preparedness, as well as other severe weather safety tips for you and your household.
What to Do When the Power Goes Out
How can I prepare for a power outage?
Planning ahead and learning how to prepare for a long term power outage and the importance of how to prepare for a power outage in the winter can get you through these situations with greater comfort and less risk. Items on your hurricane preparedness checklist apply in power outages. Here are some quick ideas to prepare for what to do when you lose power:
1. Have extra flashlights with batteries and know where they’re located.
2. Assemble an emergency kit in advance with a flashlight, battery-operated radio, extra batteries, matches/candles, bottled drinking water, non-perishable foods, charged backup chargers for cell phones, medical supplies, blankets and extra clothes appropriate for weather.
3. Consider purchasing a backup standby generator or a portable generator.
4. Establish connections and relationships to people in your neighborhood so you will be better able to cooperate during a power outage.
5. Make a paper list of emergency, family and work contacts. If you are able to find a working landline or borrow a working phone, you will have the numbers you need handy so you can reach out to friends and loved ones.
6. Subscribe to text alert services from your utility company and local government to help stay on top of news.
7. Never let your car gas tank go below half full. When power is out, gas station gasoline pumps will not work.
8. Have no-power entertainment in the form of books and games to keep up your spirits.