Weather can be unpredictable any time of year. Storms can lead to power outages as a result of several factors including lightning and wind. The biggest blackout in U.S. history occurred on August 14, 2003 and left approximately 50 million people without power. The amazing fact about this incident was that only three transmission lines in Ohio caused a chain reaction that spread across significant parts of the Northeast, Midwest, and southern Canada?

Whatever the cause of a power outage, the best strategy is to have a plan in place before it happens. Education is the key in helping families be prepared for such potentially hazardous weather conditions and unexpected events.

Before an outage

• Make a family emergency plan of action with everyone in your household. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to know how you will contact one another and what you will do in case of an emergency.
• Have local emergency contact numbers on-hand.
• Create an emergency kit.
  • Flashlights
  • Radios and batteries
  • Candles and matches
  • Non-perishable and ready-to-eat foods
  • Bottled water
  • Manual can opener
  • Warm clothing and blankets
  • First aid kit
  • Emergency contact numbers
  • Extra batteries
• Invest in an appliance thermometer. In case of a power outage, the thermometer will help determine if the food is safe.
• Regularly check the batteries in your smoke detectors.
• Keep a supply of bottled water on hand and safely stored.
• Freeze containers of water to be used for ice to keep food colder longer or freeze gel packs.
• Keep coolers on hand to help keep food cold.
• Protect sensitive electrical equipment (computers, DVD players, televisions, etc.) by installing surge protectors.

During an outage

• Never use a camp stove, barbecue, propane, or kerosene heater indoors.
• Do not use a gas oven, range, or outdoor grill to heat your home, even for a few hours.  Deadly carbon monoxide gases can build up without notice.
• Use flashlights as much as possible.  If you must use candles, do so with caution.  Candles cause an average of 15,000 home fires each year resulting in a significant number of injuries and deaths that could have been avoided.
• Turn off all lights except one.  This prevents a power surge when the power is restored.
• Avoid opening and closing the refrigerator and freezer closed to keep food from spoiling. The refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened.  A full freezer will keep the temperature for approximately 48 hours if the door remains closed.  Dry ice or block ice will keep the refrigerator as cold as possible if the power will be out for some time.
• If you are on the roadways, be extra cautious especially at intersections.

After an outage

• Expect a brief power fluctuation after you regain electricity.
• Check to make sure the refrigerator and freezer have come back on.  Sometimes a dedicated circuit breaker will trip off during a power outage.
• Don’t forget to restock your emergency kit.
• Remember to reset your clocks, automatic timers, and alarms.
• Check the safety of your food.   Keep in mind that perishable food such as meat, poultry, seafood, milk, and eggs that are not kept adequately refrigerated or frozen may cause illness if consumed, even when they are thoroughly cooked.

How do you know if your food is safe after a power outage?  Here are a few tips to minimize the risk of food borne illnesses.

• Do not consume food to determine if it is good or not. When in doubt, toss it. Even the smallest amounts of contaminated foods can be deadly.
• Make sure the freezer is at 0 °F or below for frozen foods. The refrigerator should be at 40 °F or below for fish, meat, poultry and eggs.

This is by no means a complete list of safety measures in the event of a power outage, but it is a good place to start.  Learn about the emergency plans that have been established in your area. In any emergency, always listen to the instructions given by local emergency broadcast system. Keep in mind that sometimes a power outage is not due to environmental factors.  First check whether the failure is limited to your home or if your neighbors have been affected as well.  If your neighbors appear to have power, check your circuit breakers and fuses.  If your neighbors are also without power, follow the tips above and be prepared for a minimum of 72 hours.  In times like these, it is best to be prepared and safe.

– Mark Bello is an attorney and director of Lawsuit Financial Corporation in Southfield, Michigan.

Article ID: 2237