By Erin Cassidy, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
February 5,2014; 8:23PM,EST
Power outages highlight our dependence on electricity and the necessity to prepare for unexpectedly living without it. However, there are steps you can take to prepare. With the threat of unexpected and storm-related power outages always looming, enact these measures to ensure you and your family's safety.
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Power lines after an ice storm. (Credit: Flickr/!Fiesta!)Actions to Take When an Ice Storm is Approaching
Sometimes power outages are expected by the arrival of severe weather events such as hurricanes or ice storms. These are additional steps you can take to prepare your home for weather-related blackouts.Keep at least ½ of a tank of gas in your car at all times. Many gas stations rely on electricity to power their pumps. While it may seem inconvenient to make more frequent stops at the gas station, if you have a near-empty tank during a power outage, you may lack the fuel to travel in an emergency.
Trim tree branches in your yard. It's a good idea to address any landscaping concerns before the storm season begins in your area. When a storm is approaching your home, take note of the tree limbs on your property. If they hang over power lines, make sure to trim them before the storm hits. Doing so will decrease the chances your power will be cut by a fallen tree limbs.
However, it is imperative to exercise extreme caution when working around power lines. Contact your local utility company for safety tips and assistance before attempting to trim tree branches.
Turn your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings. Lowering the temperature before you lose power will allow the refrigerator to keep acceptable temperatures for food longer. Eat perishable foods first, conserving canned or other non-perishable items for the possibility of a long-term outage.
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fallen tree branch is suspended precariously on iced power lines.
Picture taken December 12, 2008 in New England. (Credit: Flickr/*BGP*)Guidelines During a Power Outages
After determining the cause of a power outage, use these measures to weather the outage safely.Help prevent pipes from freezing. If your home is without heat, the water in your plumbing can become frozen and create expensive repair problems.
To help combat this, allow a small stream of water to run from faucets. The American Red Cross advises this action and says, "Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing."
If you own a generator, operate it safely. Never run a generator inside a home or garage, they produce potentially deadly carbon-monoxide fumes. Always keep running generators in an open and ventilated area. Also, do not directly connect the generator to your home's wiring. Plug all necessary appliances directly into the generator. When a generator is connected to a home's wiring, it can create a "back feed" into utility lines which can injure or kill anyone who is working to restore the power.
To maintain the refrigerated and frozen foods, keep fridge and freezer openings to a minimum. By not opening the door, you can keep the temperature lower for a longer period of time. Make a conscious effort before you open the fridge/freezer to plan what you will take out and close the door quickly. To increase the effectiveness of your powerless fridge, you can fill plastic containers with cold water and place inside the appliance. Not only does this increase your emergency water supply, it also helps keep the air cool inside the fridge to slow the spoilage of your food.
Although it may seem sensible to put food outside in the cold air, this is not recommended. The Oklahoma State Department of Health says, "It is not a good idea to put food from the refrigerator and freezer outside. The temperature outside can vary hour by hour, and frozen food can thaw if exposed to the sun's rays, even if it is very cold."
Conversely, food stored outside can become frozen during low temperatures.
Unplug all appliances and leave only one light switched on. There is an added risk of power surges occurring that can destroy your appliances. Leave one light on in your home so you know when the power has returned.
In case of extreme temperatures, plan on visiting locations and businesses that are likely to have generators. For instance, power outages are common during ice storms. Plan on visiting shopping malls or community centers that have generators to keep warm.
Follow these essential tips to help ensure the safety of you and your family from the unpredictability of power outages.
Naja Hannah · Top CommenterHere is an idea: if the temperature is cold enough to cause and maintain ice and snow, frozen food can be stored outside, duh. You can stuff a cooler with fresh snow.
Judy Montgomery Chartrand · Top Commenter · Writer at ABettermarriage.com
Tom Bannigan · Follow · Top CommenterJudy Montgomery Chartrand The one issue I have is keeping ice cream frozen. Weird huh, but that's the issue. We don't have the fridge plugged in right now during the winter and just use a cold room. I will have to admit,slush in the Mt Dew is not wanted all the time.
Elaine Duffy Ashley Ramsey · Follow · Top CommenterCoolers are handy...if temps are extreme--- below freezing, and sub zero... everything goes into a cooler, onto the deck/porch(but no, you dont have to put snow and ice in it) also I keep the Coleman stove handy ... it works great on the porch for morning coffee, boiling water, etc...
Dianne Dempster-McgrewHahaha, the " Oklahoma dept of health says" they know nothing about the weather here in Ohio, for sure you can put frozen and refrig foods out in the snow and ice here!!! Have done it lots of times! Guess they are speaking for Oklahoma and not us northerners.
Anne E. ShaheenWhen the power goes out during a storm in WVa, we have no problem keeping frozen food as we keep a big upright freezer in our garage. .Its cold in the garage, and we do not open its door. Do put perishable like milk,eggs,etc in large cooler, placed in the garage.
Beverly Long · Retired on May 15th. at Hagerstown Community CollegeJust in case we need this on Sunday.....
Casey Stratton · Pembroke High School, Hampton, VAAnother bad reason to leave food outside is the critters will decend on your property. Remember , they don't have food during a bad storm either!
Theresa BorchardtMy barbeque was a big help. Mammoth cave My.
Michael Collins · Top Commenter · Webster University
Marvin Wolfe Jr. · Works at YRC WorldwideIf you own a generator put star-tron in the gas ( hopefully before you put it into the generators gas tank. If not after adding star-tron shut the gas line valve off if it isn't already and start the generator run it ALL THE WAY out of gas.Now all the gas in the generator will have star-tron. If you don't do this step the gas in the fuel line WILL NOT get the treatment , and the unit will be hard to start or not start at all , until you get GOOD gas threw the system. This will keep your gas from getting stall. A generator with stall gas is just as bad a generator without gas at all. Run your generator as you need it. Don't run it all the time. This is a waste of gas , and you don't know how long the power will be off , or if you will be able to get more gas.
- Marvin Wolfe Jr. · Works at YRC WorldwideDavid Burke , tractor supply, advanced auto and wholesale marine sales larger bottles and will ship . About 32 oz . Cost about 32 dollars , but well worth it . It goes a long way . Will also increase gas milage in your car and restore power . reverses ethanol effects.
Anthony Caruso · Suwanee, Georgiajust take your food put it in a bag and place it outside where the temp is 18 degrees. the hell with the ice box.
Shawn Anderson · Follow · Madison, Wisconsin2 of these include traveling... in an ice storm... on icy roads... no! stay home, stay off the roads, it's safer. Make sure you have water stashed away in your house, blankets, a propane heater, and a co2 detector. you talk about a generator but not a propane heater?
Bob Smith · Top Commenter · School of Hard Knocks.
Fred Wilhite · Follow · Calhoun, KentuckyI was without power for 30 days during the last ice storm. The pole coming into my home was ripped off! I bought a generator then; but got it out today and it wouldn't start! Hopefully we wont loose power for long. I'm more worried about the the tree limbs falling on my roof. I just finished it yesterday...- Bob Smith · Top Commenter · School of Hard Knocks.
William Crawford · Follow · Top Commenter · Winston Cup Fabricator ( Retired) at Banjo Performance Center
Ben Parsons · Follow · Top Commenter · Daleville High SchoolPart of my fall prep is servicing my generators (2). I try to remember to exercise them regularly, but often don't. Haven't had cause to use either for more than 5 years. Live in country. No power means no water and we discovered that's the most painful part. Starter fluid works and should be part of any 'generator kit'. From an engine standpoint it's like taking a sledgehammer to the top of the piston(s). Be frugal. Keep spare spark plugs handy and make that your 'go to' first step.
Yorktown Sea Cadets Usnscc · Follow · Works at United States Navy League Cadet Corps · 410 subscribers
Mark Edwards · Mullins, South CarolinaI run ethanol-free gasoline in my small engines. Ethanol goes bad in a hurry. Go to pure-gas.org and see if there is any in your area. Also, use Sta-Bil in your stored gas and use a 2 cycle oil with a stabilizer in your chain saws. I use Shindaiwa One, but there are many others. One of the home improvement stores has (at last look) a rip-off price on their Husqvarna oil. My elcheapo generator with a porous block Blaggs and Flatten engine started on the 4th pull yesterday after not being started for about 2 years.
Lena GuidottiAgain in these temperatures why turn up the freezer when the outside is a freezer. I would say turn the fridge up 7 have a ice cooler ready to go that will fit all your frozen goods then put it outside then there is no risk of your frozen foods defrosting!- Ben Parsons · Follow · Top Commenter · Daleville High SchoolThe major problem with leaving gasoline in any equipment for an extended period of time is it evaporates from the carburetor and dries out the gaskets. They'll usually 'rehydrate' p.d.q. but can crack - then you gots trouble. Running engine till dry of fuel doesn't always solve that problem 'cuz fuel will remain in the bowl of many carburetors. Some have drains for the bowl. As long as gasoline in the tank still smells like gasoline it's generally okay to use. Have had gasoline remain good over a few years in larger tanks (like most generators have). Use a stabilizer. As a general rule too, generators don't do well when exposed to rain or snow. Can be downright deadly dangerous actually. I modified mine to run indoors (garage) with a little welding and a cheap automotive muffler set up attachment (look on internet) which exhausts outside and is all but silent. Very worthwhile.
Donald Graham · Campbellsville UniversityI was without power for 5 and 1/2 days after an ice storm. It was(became) 25 degrees in my mobile home. That`s a freezer. I poured a bottle of alcohol in my toilet tanks and toliets to keep them from freezing. I had the water running from 1 facet furtherest away from the hot water heater(cold water container). I stayed at my brothers HOUSE for about 3 and 1/2 days. It was warmer than my mobile home. It was a brick home with triple pane windows. That`s the way I did it. naturally the food in my fridge was ok in the deep freeze environment.
Margaret P. Smith · Follow · Works at Atek Pest ManagementPlan on visiting shopping malls with a generator after an ice-storm? How safe is it to drive around after an ice-storm? How safe is it to go out to clean off the vehicle when there are downed power-lines or fallen trees? And how about the obvious recommendations to keep on hand: blankets, flashlights and other lights not-dependent on electricity, kitty litter to help a vehicle get traction in snow or ice, salt, shovel, ample pet-food, phone charger for the car, and jumper cables.
Joe Jividen · Pleasant High SchoolIt is eight below zero as I write this in Ohio. I have a 23000 btu kerosene heater going and it is heating a 12,500 sq, ft. two story home. I have to crack a window in the storm door to keep it from being too warm in here. The heater cost me 100.00 bucks at Tractor Supply. Five gallons of k-1 kerosene is around 23.00 and will last about 40 hours. I can cook on this if needed and it puts out a fair amount of light. Why would anyone spend thousands of dollars on a generator for emergency heat?
Cortney Reicherts DierksIf you are out in the country without electricity to run your well pump, remember you have 35-40 gallons of fresh water in your water heater.
Cynthia Nortmann · Follow · Kirkwood Continuing Educationgreat advice, in this cold, cold spell! thank you!
Denise Sharbaugh · Stevenson UniversityAnd just what are people on wells supposed to do during a power outage to prevent our pipes from freezing?
Dan Nims · College of Hard KnocksIf you don't have a generator already, consider buying one that uses propane for fuel. Advantages: propane doesn't 'spoil' during storage. The engine generally runs quieter. There are emissions in the exhaust but not as severe as from a gasoline engine. Of course, if you have natural gas available and have the resources to invest in an automatic system, then consider getting a larger back up generator with automatic switching. It will connect through your electrical panel and has a detector to determine when the power is off. (Generally with a 30 second delay so a momentary interruption won't start the generator) The switch panel will switch over to your back up generator and block any power from going down the grid line. (This is a requirement as utility employees would otherwise be at risk when repairing downed lines.) Once switched at the electric panel, the generator will start automatically. (And it can be set to shut down and switch the panel back when grid power is restored/ The cost of such a system will vary according to power output; natural gas has similar advantages over gasoline as propane, except with it plumbed into your established line, you won't run out. (A severe earthquake is an exception.) Probably budget $10,000 for an installed system.- Ben Parsons · Follow · Top Commenter · Daleville High SchoolAll most excellent advice Dan. Have considered it using propane. No access to NG.
I live far out. 25 years now. I'm happy to report our power today is much more reliable than it was when we first moved here. Still, a few hours off, usually a result of an auto accident down line, occurs once or twice a year.
Have two identical portable (barely) generators. Plug into switch boxes. Well pump and gas furnace in barn. Electric gas fireplaces, fridges, and some outlets in house.
Last time I fired and hooked everything up was the ice storm of '05. 7 days of hell in January.
I wish I had an automatic system every time I lose power. But when I come back to reality, I cannot justify the expense. They do seem to be getting a little more economical though.
Lori KutcherIf you do use gas to run your generator, use non-oxygenated gasoline. There is NO ethanol in non-oxygenated gas. You can leave it in the tank much longer without harming your generator or other small engines. If you can not find non-oxy fuel than use what ever you can find if your life depends on it. If your worried about the pipes in your home freezing, you can also turn your main valve off, open all your faucets so the water flows to the lowest point in your home. Something many people over look (if your home is going to freeze), open any cabinet doors to help what warm air you do have left to keep pipes from freezing.
Fyrefly Hollow · Fyrefly Hollow AcademyAmazing how people giving advice have no practical knowledge these days. OF COURSE you can put food outside, not in the sun, in a container to keep wild life out (preferably in a cooler with snow, as previously mentioned). If you need advice, visit the FEMA website. The Red Cross website has good info too. There are many survival blogs out there as well------>survival blogs, not just for zombie invasions and crazy hermits.......
Larry Dwaine Schall · Followit will take weeks for the bottles of ice to thow keeping fresh your food and giving you drinking water at same time. kill 2 birds with one stone. do the same in empty shelves in the fridge..save energy. and and have clean drinking water.- Larry Dwaine Schall · Followfill bottom of your freezer with 2 liter bottles of water and any empty void.
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