There are times when it’s easy to see a power outage coming. For example, if you live in Florida and a hurricane is closing in on your area, it’s likely that you’ll experience some interruption in service.
But of course, there are also times when you don’t see this coming. Maybe a bad storm pops up without notice. Or perhaps there’s an accident in your area that knocks your home off the power grid.
With so many variables at play, it’s always a good idea to prepare in advance for a power outage. This way, if the worst happens, you’re able to take immediate action to ensure your health and safety.
Here are five of the best ways to prepare for a power outage:
1. Buy a generator
This is one of the best things you can do, as a generator is able to supply power to your home when you’re unable to get it any other way.
The cost of generators is more reasonable than ever. Combine this with the fact that they’re packed full of modern-day features, and there’s no wonder why so many people are making this purchase.
Tip: a generator should only be used outdoors and far away from windows.
2. Keep your flashlights ready
Even if you have a generator, you may need to rely on flashlights from time to time. For instance, a flashlight could help if you need light to connect your generator in the middle of the night.
Keep a few flashlights around your home so that you always have access to one in the event of an emergency. Along with this, check the batteries several times per year. Neglecting to do so could leave you disappointed and unsafe.
3. Store non-perishable food items and water
It goes without saying that you need enough water on hand in case you don’t have access to what you need to survive. But just as importantly, you should have plenty of non-perishable food items to choose from.
Some of the best non-perishable food items include dried and canned beans, nuts and seeds, grains, and canned fish.
Review your stock of non-perishable food items several times per year to ensure that you have what you need and that they have not reached their expiration date.
4. Think about how you’ll stay cool or warm
It’s easy for this one to slip your mind, but it deserves your full attention during your preparations. What will you do if you lose power to your home during the dog days of summer? How about if you lose power when temperatures are below freezing?
There’s no one size fits all solution to staying cool or warm without power. You need to do what’s best for you and your family based on the type of HVAC system you have and the area you live.
5. Know where your medication is located
You may find it difficult to get the medication you need if disaster strikes your area. Know where your medication is located and make sure you always have enough on hand. This can be the difference between life and death in the event of an emergency.
In addition to traditional medication, store glasses and contact lenses in an easy-to-find place, too.
Note: just the same as food, medication has an expiration date. Check your dates often so that you don’t find yourself stuck with medication that isn’t effective.
If you want to learn more about how to prepare for a power outage, visit Ready.gov online. It’s here that you’ll find additional tips such as:
- What you should and shouldn’t do from a safety perspective
- Actions to take once power is restored to your home
- How to use appliances during an outage
Summary
These aren’t the only things you should do to prepare for a power outage, but they’ll definitely put you on the right path. You hope that you never find yourself in this situation, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Neglecting to prepare puts you, your family, and your home at risk. And with this hanging over your head, you’ll never have the peace of mind that you deserve.
Have you ever had to live an extended period of time without power? Were you prepared? What other tips would you add to the list above?