What to do before and during a power outage

As many as 27,500 households in Central Ohio still do not have power due to the ice storm that walloped the Midwest this week. So, what safety precautions should those households be taking to remain safe during the outage? According to AEP, customers should:

• Unplug major appliances to protect them from a power surge when power comes back on.
• Leave a light turned on so you know when power is restored.
• Refuel heaters, lamps, and generators outside, and stay away from any flames or sparks. Wipe up fuel spills immediately.
• Contact AEP if using a generator- this protects the customer and line workers as they work to restore power.
• Never operate lanterns, heaters, or fuel-fired stoves without proper ventilation.
• Never burn charcoal indoors. It releases poisonous carbon monoxide.
• Avoid downed power lines or sparking equipment.
• Never remove debris that’s within 10 feet of a power line.
• Prevent children from carrying candles or oil lamps.

Since power outages and extreme weather is on everyone’s mind, now is a great time to prepare your home for power outages and blackouts.

• Fill plastic containers with water, leaving about an inch of space inside each one for the frozen water to expand. Place the containers in the refrigerator and freezer. This chilled or frozen water will help keep food cold for several hours if the power goes out.
• If you use medication that requires refrigeration, most can be kept in a closed refrigerator for several hours without a problem. If unsure, check with your physician or pharmacist.
• Back up computer files and operating systems. Consider buying extra batteries and a power converter if you use a laptop computer.
• Turn off all computers, monitors, printers, copiers, scanners and other electronic devices when they are not being used.
• Get a high quality surge protector for your electronic equipment.
• If you have an electric garage door opener, find out where the manual release lever is located and learn how to operate it.
• If you have a telephone at home or at work that requires electricity to operate, plan for alternate communication. Purchase a car charger for your cell phone.
• Keep your car fuel at least half full because gas stations rely on electricity to power the pumps.
• Remember that equipment such as ATMs may not work during a power outage, so make sure you have extra cash at home.
• Find out how to keep food safe during and after an emergency http://bit.ly/fkSt29

Preparedness eases the hardship that power outages bring. With a few easy steps, you can prepare your home and your family for the next major storm. Be safe out there!