Are you adequately prepared for a short-term power outage?
Don’t get caught in the dark, literally! Take steps now to ensure that you are prepared for a short-term power outage!
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My story
Have you ever had one of those horrible, no good, very bad days?
My horrible, no good, very bad day ended in unexpected complete darkness due to a power outage for which I was woefully unprepared.
I was at the tail end of a harrowing day, having spent the day getting Brian admitted to, and settled into the hospital.
After driving home in a torrential downpour I was greeted at my back door by a clap of thunder, a streak of lightning, and a total loss of power.
When flipping on my phone’s flashlight, I watched the battery indicator go from black to red, complete with a low battery alert.
My husband was in the hospital, I had a basically dead phone, and no idea what to do without Brian during a loss of power.
By the grace of God, as we were leaving the house, Brian had pointed out where I could find a working flashlight.
I spent an hour in my car charging my phone, cursing my luck, and laughing at the absurdity of the whole situation.
That night was a wake-up call.
It is my responsibility to ensure that I am prepared for a short-term power outage, with or without Brian.
Most importantly, you will need light!
Have at least one good, working, portable source of light.
The source of light does not need to be expensive or elaborate. A simple, inexpensive flashlight works just fine.
Make sure you know where it is, and keep it in working condition.
Learn from me.
With at least one source of light, you will be able to navigate without being in total darkness.
Having multiple sources of light make a power outage more tolerable.
Have a flashlight in each bedroom and make sure that the occupant of each room knows where to find it.
Battery powered lanterns (affiliate link)as well as headlamps (affiliate link) are great options as a light source during a power outage.
One good idea that Brian came up with was putting inexpensive, battery powered tea lights in every room throughout the night.
Keep batteries on hand.
This piece is challenging!
Make sure you keep a stash of batteries on hand.
There’s no point in investing in battery operated lights, only to be unable to use them because you have no working batteries.
Notify the power company of the power outage.
Keep the phone number in your contact list in your phone, and know your account number.
One of the first things you should do is call in the outage. Don’t assume your neighbors will take care of this detail.
The sooner the power company is notified of the outage, the sooner they can start working to restore your service.
Keep your phone charged.
Unless you have a landline, your phone is your lifeline to safety.
Keep it charged.
Invest in a portable battery charger for your phone.
Like an empty gas tank, it’s a sure bet that when you need it most, your phone battery will be about dead!
Invest in a portable battery charger for the time that it happens.
If you have a landline, keep a corded phone available.
Plan ahead for meals that can be prepared without electricity.
Keep the ingredients in the pantry at all times.
Buy an old-fashioned, manual can opener (affiliate link)so you can actually open cans of non-perishable foods.
Hint, make sure everyone knows how to actually use it!
Unplug and turn off all electronics and light switches.
Power surges are common when the power kicks back on.
You will want to rejoice when the power comes back on, not cry because your electronics were fried in the process!
Seek shelter elsewhere if, for any reason, your home is unsafe.
Know where the shelters for your town are in cases of severe weather.
If you depend on electricity to run life sustaining medical equipment, being prepared for a power outage will be more extensive.
Check with the provider of your medical equipment to determine what options are available for preparing for a power outage.
Are you adequately prepared for a short-term power outage?
Most of us are not!
However, with a small amount of preparation, you can be confident that during the next power outage, you won’t be caught completely in the dark!
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Comments or questions? Email me at Micki@LivingbyLittles.com
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