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Ways to Prepare for a Power Outage in Saline County, Arkansas

December 13, 2017
Are generators a necessity in Saline County, Arkansas?
If you live here long enough you will learn that Arkansas power lines are not ice-storm friendly. If you have electronic necessities, like medical equipment, it is important to be ready for long-term power outages.

Does your home need a generator? If you are considering one of the many standby and portable generators out there, ask an expert at Northside Power. We are the top generator dealer in Arkansas. Our goal is to provide quality service and peace of mind for all our customers preparing for a power outage in Saline County Arkansas. Contact us here: https://northsidepower.com/contactus.html

Preparing for a power outage without a generator.

If you don’t have any electricity-powered home necessities—and are ready to be cold for a few days, a generator is not an essential. Here are a few tips for surviving a winter power outage in Saline County Arkansas, without a generator.

During a power outage it’s important to know how much resources you have available. Many Arkansans stock up on groceries and other essentials if there is talk of a snow storm. An Arkansas ice storm can leave many residents in their home for several days without power or, due to icy roads, the ability to safely drive to a different location.

It’s a good idea to always have the following things on hand, ready to go.

  • A collection of flashlights. During a power outage, it’s a good idea to use flashlights sparingly.
  • Battery powered radio. Have a radio or something powered by batteries or other non- powerline-provided electricity to stay connected to local weather news.
  • Portable phone charger. Many of us rely on smartphones to stay connected to the outside world. Should you experience an emergency during the power outage, you will need your phone to call emergency services. Use your phone sparingly and have a backup charging source.
  • A properly functioning CO detector. Make sure your CO detector is working properly. A power outage during a snowstorm leaves many homeowners looking for alternative ways to heat their home. Unfortunately, not all heating methods are safe. CO is odorless, colorless, and deadly.

Preparing for a power outage with a generator.

Do you have a portable generator or standby generator to power your essential equipment and appliances during a power outage? If so, you need to know how much power this generator will provide, how long it will provide power, and what essentials you are going to use it to power.

Many homeowners with electronic medical equipment have a home standby generator that kicks in as soon as the power goes out. A standby generator requires the least amount of maintenance by the owner. It will run its own tests when the power is on to make sure it is ready to go when the power cuts off. It will also activate as soon as a loss in power is detected.

Some homeowners choose to have a portable generator on hand to use during a long-term power outage, or a power outage during severe weather. Portable generators have several safety regulations to follow to keep the user and the occupants of the home safe.

If you have a portable generator, here are a few things you can do to make sure you are ready for a power outage.

  • Test the generator while the power is on. This is one of the tricky things about a portable generator. When the power is on, it’s the last thing on your mind. You forget to do regular tests. When the power goes out and you unshelve your generator you may find it has a maintenance issue.
  • Know how much power your generator generates. You need to decide what circuits are essential to power during a power outage. Depending on the amount of power your generator puts out, you may need to be selective.
  • Read the owner’s manual. Generators are dangerous. Each model has safety requirements to keep you and the occupants of your home safe. It’s a good idea to know these safety requirements ahead of time so you can plan.