When you were a kid, you probably loved power outages. Blackouts were a chance to see what the world would be like without electricity, the hum of motors and lights polluting the sky. For a moment, you could step back in time and experience the world as a simpler, less technologically driven society.
The biggest blackout in the history of the United States occurred on August 14, 2003 during the height of summer. Over 50 million Americans were affected. The question isn’t when a blackout is going to happen, but are you prepared for it?
As an adult, you know the risks of a blackout. You know that when the power goes out in the middle of summer, your family gets put at risk of prolonged exposure to the elements.
Items in your refrigerator are going to begin to spoil, and a power outage can cost you more than you’re willing to lose. In the winter, you can freeze without backup sources of heat and depending on your location, the pipes in your home can burst as the walls cool and the pipes freeze.
Blackouts can come at any time, and while only temporary, there is no reason for your family to suffer if you’re prepared.
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Emergency Kits
If you don’t yet have an emergency kit, you’re asking for trouble when the next blackout hits. The emergency kit should contain enough food, water, and supplies to last at least 72 hours. Canned foods that don’t need to be heated, energy bars, bottled water, and gels that have a long shelf life are all good options. Keep a list of when your goods expire, use them, and replace them with fresh products.
You should also have a basic first aid kit and learn how to use it before an accident occurs. Don’t use the emergency kit unless it’s an actual emergency to prevent opening yourself up to a situation where you don’t have the necessary supplies. Every emergency kit should also have a battery-powered radio to listen to the news, flashlights, and plenty of batteries.
Prep Your Fridge and Freezer
Fill the empty space in your fridge and freezer with plastic bottles. Allow for proper airflow, but don’t leave extra room in your fridge or freezer.
Keeping frozen and chilled bottles of water in your refrigerator and freezer allows your food to stay fresh even when the power goes out. As the fridge and freezer warm-up, the frozen and chilled water will help keep your food cold and prevent spoilage.
If you do have a power outage, don’t open that refrigerator or freezer unless you absolutely need to. This can help ensure that any medications and foods that need to stay cool don’t get put at risk.
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Keep Your Car Full
Keep your car full of gas, or better yet, have a good set of bicycles for everyone in your family. When there is a power outage, gas stations pumps won’t work.
You can also keep gas in an approved storage container and replace it weekly to ensure that there is always gas on hand in the case of an emergency.
Additionally, if you have an electric garage door, know how to open it if there is no power to your house.
Often, this seemingly simple problem can become very serious if there is a power outage, some gets injured and you have no way to get your car out of the garage.
