How To Prepare For A Power Outage

Power outages can happen in any season. Oftentimes, snow, ice, wind or other weather elements are to blame, but blackouts can also be caused by vehicle collisions, construction accidents, high-power demands and other manmade mishaps.

Getting caught in the dark can be kind of fun for a short spell; but if you're unprepared, power outages can be inconvenient and even downright dangerous.

Fortunately, you can do a few things now to ensure your home is ready the next time the lights go out.

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Have your emergency preparedness kit ready.

The American Red Cross recommends storing supplies in an easy-to-carry emergency preparedness kit that can be used at home or taken with you if you have to evacuate.

There a number of prepacked emergency preparedness kits available online, but you can just as easily assemble your own. Must-have items include:

• Emergency drinking water: Regular bottled water is great for home, but these highly portable pouches from Datrex are great to stow away in your go bag. They have a five-year shelf life, so if even if you don't use them right away, you likely won't need to restock.

• Nonperishable food: For your on-the-go needs, Millennium Bars makes an assorted 24-pack of 400-calorie bars that have a shelf life of up to five years. And for the pantry or the basement, Wise Co. makes a kit with 104 servings of ready-to-eat food — all of which has a 25-year shelf life.

• Medications: Make sure to have a seven-day supply on hand of any medications needed by people or pets. Power outages can prevent the use of medical devices, which is why Ready.gov suggests having alternate plans in place for using power-dependent medical devices or medicines that require refrigeration.
• Flashlights: Have at least one per person; and if they're battery-operated, keep an extra set of batteries on hand. For a bright, hassle-free backup, we recommend this hand-powered Clipray from the American Red Cross. Cranking it for just one minute produces enough power for 10 minutes of light. You can also use it to charge a cell phone — no batteries or external power required.
• First aid kit: Most any well-stocked, up-to-date kit will do, but we recommend this 326-piece kit from Be Smart Get Prepared. Not only does it exceed OSHA and ANSI guidelines, but it also comes in a compact, ready-to-carry hard case.

• Copies of personal documents: This includes passports, birth certificates, insurance polices, emergency contact information and medication lists for family members and pets. If anyone has a condition requiring immediate attention, make sure to note the details prominently.
• Emergency radio: A battery-powered or hand-cranked emergency radio is essential for getting information on local weather and safety conditions. The American Red Cross makes a NOAA Weather Radio that can charge a smartphone via a USB cord. It also features an LED flashlight with a red flashing beacon.

• Emergency blankets: Emergency blankets can help you retain much-needed body heat in an emergency situation. ANMEILU makes a four-pack of Mylar thermal blankets that fit easily in any emergency kit.
• Cash: If the power's out, credit card and ATM machines may not be working. Keep an emergency stash in your preparedness kit just in case you venture out in this type of situation.

Have your home ready.

In addition to all the essentials in your home preparedness kit, your home should be equipped with the right supplies to keep you safe and comfortable throughout the power outage. These include:

• Carbon monoxide detectors: Ready.gov recommends installing carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup in central locations on every level of your home. First Alert makes a dual-power CO2 detector alarm that's easy to operate and comes with a seven-year limited warranty.

• Emergency lanterns: Lighting candles in a dark house can be dangerous — especially if children or pets are around. Opt instead for emergency lanterns for added whole-room light. Energizer Lighting makes a bright battery-powered lantern that puts out up to 500 lumens in high mode and has a run time of up to 650 hours.

• Full gas tanks: Make a habit of not letting your car's gas tank get bellow a quarter full. In the event of a power outage, you may need to leave your home, so you don't want it to be sitting on empty. If the outage is widespread, nearby gas stations may not be operational.

Consider purchasing a generator.

An emergency home generator can keep your heat and electrical appliances working with minimal interruption during a power outage. A home standby generator such as the Generac Guardian Series 11 will turn on automatically when your power goes out.

A portable generator such as the Westinghouse WGen7500 will need to be turned on manually or remotely via electronic start. This type of generator typically doesn't cause as much upfront as a home standby generator, but it has high operating costs and is only intended for short-term use.

The right generator for your home will depend largely on your needs and budget. But with any type of generator, you'll need to ensure it's installed, operated and maintained for safety.

Check out more home generators at every price!

Sources:
American Red Cross: Survival Kit Supplies
American Red Cross: Power Outage Safety
Ready.gov: Power Outages