Monday 30 May 2016

What You Need To Do When A Power Outage Happens

By Jennifer Allen


Sometimes, you cannot avoid the inevitability of a power outage within your area and it is important to remember that you must not go into panic mode when this happens. So rather than spending your time wallowing in misery, you should instead focus your energies on preparing for such eventualities. To discover how you can endure the temporary inconvenience of not having any electricity at home, here are some useful hints of advice to guide you along the way.

Keep in mind that utility providers do not turn off the power without any legitimate reasons. They always inform residents whenever they have to shut off services due to maintenance or weather concerns. This helps people to be aware of the situation and thereby giving them the chance to prepare and surviving the grid going down when it happens on the appointed schedule.

Stock up on alternative sources of illumination because you will need them, especially if the outage occurs during nighttime. Candles and lanterns are acceptable, but you need to be careful when using them due to being potential fire hazards. Other good light sources include flashlights and portable emergency floodlights. For the latter option, make sure to have some batteries on hand for them.

If you know that the electricity will not return for most of the day, you should take out all the perishable goods from your slowly defrosting fridge and cook them immediately to prevent spoilage. Consider this as an advantage because at least you will not go hungry even when there is no power. Furthermore, leave no leftovers since you cannot yet use your refrigerator to store extras.

Parallel to the previous tip, you would be wise to stock up on food products that can be stored in your kitchen cupboards or the pantry. Obviously, these include canned goods of all shapes and sizes, as well as things like oatmeal, dried pasta, and bottled water. Majority of these items can be easily consumed with minimal preparation and even without the use of your electric stove.

When your electric stove is unfortunately out of commission due to the cutoff, then be resourceful and use other means to help cook the food you need to eat. Think about buying a portable butane stove used for camping as this is adequate for things like boiling water and heating canned goods. This will surely be a useful investment for contingency measures such as power outages.

Outage announcements are usually dispatched through local TV and radio stations, so always pay attention when such information is being delivered. In this regard, you should always charge your smartphone ahead of time so you have it ready for use when contacting your loved ones. Refrain from using your phone unnecessarily because you must save it for emergency calls or texts.

Last but not the least, blackouts are a great opportunity for you to enjoy some leisure time outdoors. Do some enjoyable activities such as reading a good book in your backyard or hanging out with your friends at a nearby park. These things sound much more appealing compared to just staying indoors without any power and getting bored by simply waiting for the electricity to return.

So as you can see, there really is no reason for you to go into hysterics when the electricity disappears. By following the advice mentioned in this guide, you will surely survive the awkwardness of not having any electric power. Stay positive and remember that this is only a transient period.




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