Power outages can be a nuisance. They usually come without warning and are irritating, especially when it’s the middle of the night and you forgot to plug in your phone. Depending on how widespread the outage is, you may lose internet access as well. Therefore, read this blog carefully, as it is important to know what to do in the event of a power outage.
Gather Information
If you do have internet access, try and find out whatever info you can on it. You’ll want to know roughly how long it will last, and what caused it. Your best bet is the local authorities, as they are probably working on handling the situation right now. If you don’t have internet, try using the radio in your car and tune in to the local news channel.
Shut Off Your Appliances
If a storm caused the power outage (eg. knocked over power lines) then you will want to shut down your home’s power supply altogether. The sudden resurgence in power can overload and severely damage your appliances, making them all a hazard to be around. This is especially a danger if the power flickers, resulting in continuous surges of power being sent to your appliances.
Avoid Water Puddles
Water puddles and flooded areas, especially during a storm, are dangerous during a power outage. Bodies of waters like that can come into contact with exposed wiring that you may not see if it is dark or murky. Therefore, try to avoid these areas as much as possible, and stick to dry, stable, visible surfaces as often as you can.
Respond To The Temperature
If an outage occurs during the winter months, remember that heat loss within your home will be an issue, and that if it happens during the summer, temperatures will rise. Therefore, be sure to adjust accordingly to avoid sickness. Layer up when the temperature drops, and stay hydrated if the temperature rises.
Preparing In Advance
The best case scenario, of course, is to be prepared for these cases in advance, and have safety measures already in place in the event that this happens. Here are a couple measures that you should take to protect yourself in such an incident.
Surge Protection Devices
As previously mentioned, power surges and fluctuations that occur in the event of an outage are a serious problem, and can cause harm to you through serious damage to your appliances. Whole-home surge protectors and lightning arrestors can negate this problem, and protect your home from power fluctuations. This is a basic line of defense that should be installed into every home. If you don’t have one, we’d be happy to install one in for you.
Home Portable and Standby Generators
If power outages are common for you, then this is definitely worth the investment. A generator is the ultimate way to protect yourself against power outages in the most convenient and safest way possible. We recommend the Generac generator for the best alternative power source out there. It starts up automatically in the event of an outage, doesn’t require refueling, and is functional during all times and climates of the year. It is a worthy investment that is certainly worth looking into.
A power outage can occur anytime during the year and can be a hazard to you and your family if it does. Use these tips to ensure your safety in the event that it happens, and if you want to avoid most of the hazards entirely, take precautions and install preventative measures in advance. We over at Morrill Electric would be more than happy to assist you, and service you on power outage protection, and any other electrical related needs. Call us or fill out an inquiry form to learn more.