When state officials begin announcing snow, ice, freezing rain or all of the above in the Indianapolis area, ice-coated power lines that cause power outages typically are not far behind. And it’s not just in the winter when you need to worry about power outages. In the summer, lightening can cause its share of havoc, and even a big heat wave can overtax the electrical system because everyone’s cranking their air conditioning.
If you do lose power, you should be be prepared to go without it for a long time, just to be on the safe side. If you’re wondering how you can prepare, here’s a handy checklist of items on which you should stock up so that you’re ready. Here’s what you need to have:
- Flashlights: Don’t use candles, which create a fire risk
- Fire extinguisher
- Food: Stock up on dry foods and non-perishable canned goods that you can heat on a camping stove or over a fire in your fireplace, where applicable
- Water: You should have enough for one gallon, per person, per day
- Extra ice: Store in a separate freezer, if possible, to pack around refrigerated food to prevent it from spoiling. Don’t open your refrigerator during power outages unless it’s absolutely necessary
- Camp stove
- Radio: a hand-crank or battery-powered model
- Extra batteries
- Extra blankets
- Medicines: store up a one-week supply of any prescription medicine that you or your loved ones use, and any over-the-counter medicine, too
- First-aid kit
- Tools, such as a hammer, crowbar, saw and screwdriver
- Personal hygiene products
- Cell phones with chargers, especially car chargers
- Emergency and family-member contact information, in written form, in case you can’t access computers or cell-phone data
- Extra cash in small bills: bank and ATMs likely will be without power, too
- A full tank of gas in your vehicle
- Non-electronic games for the children, including puzzles, books and other items that will keep them busy and entertained
It’s also good to have a backup power source or generator, especially if someone in your household needs life-sustaining equipment that runs on electrical power. It’s also good if you have children, so that you’re able to turn on a light or cook basic foods to keep them comfortable.
Questions about preparing your home for power outages? Talk to the experts at Mowery Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing for professional advice as well as complete HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) services. Visit our website to learn more or just give us a call.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
Mowery services the Brownsburg, Indiana and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
