Staying Safe During a Power Outage at Home

The lightning cracks, there’s a loud boom, and suddenly your home is dark. You look around, startled. Yep. The power is out.

If you have a standby generator, you don’t have much to worry about. The systems the generator handles will be functional within a moment or two. If you don’t have one, you need to take additional actions to stay safe.

Do you know how to keep yourself and your family safe during a home power outage? Here are the tips you need.

Turn on a Weather Radio

Hopefully, the power outage is nothing more than a lightning hit nearby, but if it’s part of a major storm your area could be at further risk. An average of 33 tornadoes a year hit the state of Arkansas, and you can’t be too careful.

Having a battery-operated weather radio is an essential part of being prepared for bad weather. Yes, your phone has a lot of information, but without power you may not be able to keep the battery charged. The weather may also cause problems with the network connections.

A standby generator at home can help power outlets, which allows you to get your weather information online or on TV. However keep in mind that storms can interrupt those signals, so a battery-operated weather radio is a good backup.

Get Some Light

Without light, you won’t be able to do much. It’s amazing how difficult it is to find your way around in a home you’ve lived in for years when you suddenly can’t see!

A standby generator can help you power lights, but if you don’t have one, you’ll want a flashlight or lantern. Once you have light, you’ll be able to check on other family members, help pets who might be frightened, and more.

Have Non-Perishable Food

No power means no cooking in most homes. Unless you have a gas stove, you won’t be able to heat anything up. Even with a gas stove, if the storm is severe you may not want to risk turning it on.

Make sure you have canned food, such as soup, available in your home at all times. If you know that a major storm is coming, it’s worthwhile to stock up on some additional food in case you lose power.

Of course, having a standby generator can help you power your major appliances and not have to worry about being unable to cook.

Keep Everyone Together

As much as possible, keep your family together during an emergency. Short-term, everyone may be able to be in one room. If the power outage is longer, be sure everyone stays in the home. Going outside may be interesting if you want to check out what the weather is doing, but it is unsafe until the storm passes.

Even once the storm is over, avoid being “disaster tourists.” You may be curious what damage there is, but emergency and power workers need the space to do their jobs. Having people walking around dangerous areas – especially downed power lines or trees – can make their work more difficult. You or your family members can also get hurt.

If you have pets, keep a special eye on them. Keep them inside or on your own property. This helps them stay safer.

Have a Standby Generator for Emergencies

Having a standby generator is an important part of being prepared for a power outage. Whether the outage is short term or long, the generator helps you maintain your normal course of life. You don’t have nearly as many hazards to worry about.

Interested in getting a generator for your home? Contact us today! We’ll be happy to help.