The
hazard-focused theme for week 4 (September 20 – 26) of National
Preparedness Month is power outage. Although power outages can
happen anytime, they are often associated with severe weather. Since power
outages can last for several hours or several days, it’s important to plan
ahead. The Ready
Campaign offers the following tips to prepare.
BEFORE
a
power outage:
·
Charge devices that use battery
power and ensure you have extra batteries for these devices;
·
Identify local sources where dry or
block ice can be purchased;
·
Keep your car tank at least half
full because gas stations rely on electricity to fuel their pumps;
·
Create a disaster supply
kit that includes alternative cell phone chargers, a flashlight,
water & nonperishable food, a non-electric can opener, cash, and a battery
or hand-crank radio.
If
you require power for medical or assistive devices, get battery back-up for the
devices, know how long the batteries will last, plan a location you can move to
that has power, ask local Emergency Management for information about
registering to be identified as someone that has power dependent medical
devices, and learn what services may be available.
DURING a power outage:
·
Keep your refrigerator and freezer
doors closed. For most standard size refrigerators and freezers, a cool
temperature can be maintained for several hours. For food you need to use, plan
on having a cooler with conventional or dry ice available;
·
Use flashlights for emergency
lighting. Never use candles due to extreme risk of fire;
·
Only use a generator outside of your
home and keep it away from windows and doors;
·
For drugs that require
refrigeration, check the manufacturer’s label or contact your doctor for
guidance. Most drugs can be stored on ice for several hours; and
·
Make preparations to keep
refrigerated medications in a closed cooler until the power comes back on.
Learn
the importance of being prepared for power outages and get more survival tips
in FEMA’s “Going off Grid”
resource guide.
No comments:
Post a Comment