Prepare an Outage Kit
Prepare an outage kit to have on hand before any outages occur. A fully stocked outage kit will be crucial if extended outages occur. Here are some ideas of what a kit can include:
- Battery-powered radio
- Flashlights & fresh batteries
- Emergency supplies of water
- Non-perishable, easily-prepared foods
- Drinking water
- Manual, non-electric can & bottle openers
- Candles, matches/lighters
- Portable heater (gas or oil)
- Camping equipment
- Charger for cell phone or laptop
- Cooler
- Blankets & pillows
- Cash
- Medications & personal hygiene products
- Non-cordless phone
- First-aid kit
- Pet supplies
- Fire extinguisher & smoke alarm
- Family & emergency contact list
- Hand sanitizer, baby wipes, and toilet paper.
- Books, deck of cards, or games
Other Ways to be Prepared
- Sign up for our SmartHub app, it is the best way to report outages and stay informed about the restoration process.
- Have an exit plan, if you are unprepared for extended outages you need to have a place to go where you can be safe.
- If you have a telephone system that requires electricity to work, such as a cordless phone, plan to have a standard telephone or cellular phone ready as a backup. It is also a good practice to keep a charging bank in full power to charge cell phones or other devices if needed.
- If you have a fireplace or woodstove, keep kindling and dry firewood on hand.
- When there is impending dangerous weather, fill your bathtub with water if your supply depends on electricity.
- Fill up your vehicles with gas in the event that you need to evacuate or relocate to another area; and if you use a portable generator, fill up fuel cans.
- Fill plastic containers with water and place them in the freezer, you can use them to help keep food cold during a power outage as it thaws out to drink.
- Fill bathtubs or large containers or tubs with water before bad weather for extra water.
Winterize vehicles, not just automobiles. - To help prevent burst pipes, close any shut-off valves that lead to outside faucets and drain excess water from the lines. Also, drain lines in unheated areas of your home like the attic.
Pets and Livestock
- Keep extra pet food on hand or in your emergency outage kit.
- Keep plenty of fresh water for your pets.
- For smaller livestock water troughs, you can place floating objects in water to keep them from completely icing over and make removing built-up ice easier.
- Filling jugs with saltwater and enough air to float can make an automatic waterer function since the water around the jug will not freeze.
- For livestock tanks, have equipment and/or tools available to drill or bust holes to allow for watering.