From preparation to restoration: Staying warm, fed and lit when the grid goes dark.

Before a power outage.

Preparation is key to ensuring your household stays calm when your home loses power. Planned or unexpected outages are easier to deal with if you have an emergency preparedness kit that contains essentials that can keep your family warm and fed until power is restored to your home. Contents should include, but not be limited to:

• First aid kit
• Can opener
• Hand sanitizer
• Food thermometer
• Bottled drinking water
• Nonperishable food items
• Extra batteries
• Battery-operated flashlights
• Portable cellphone charger
• Emergency or wind-up radio
• Blankets and sleeping bags
• Ice chest for refrigerated medicines
• Deck of cards or several board games
• Jackets, socks, and other warm clothing
• Portable cooking supplies, e.g., sterno cans, matches
• Backup power source for plug-in medical devices

Take an inventory of supplies that require electricity to ensure your specific needs are covered. Check the kit at least twice a year to confirm items have not expired. Replenish contents as needed.

Households who also maintain an emergency financial first aid kit that includes physical copies of financial, insurance, and medical documents are often better prepared to deal with extended outages or mandatory evacuation orders. If you have the documents on hand, it could make it easier to access bank accounts, file insurance claims, and receive medical treatment. Backup copies stored in a safe deposit box or encrypted cloud storage provide another level of protection in case printed copies are damaged or destroyed. Visit Ready.gov for a complete list of recommended items to include in your financial kit. 

Lastly, a written emergency communication plan could give you peace of mind before, during and after the event. Such plans might include emergency contact phone numbers and community heating locations closest to your home. Store a hard copy of the plan along with the emergency preparedness kit and the emergency financial first aid kit in a central location of the residence. Keep backup copies of the communication plan in the same place as emergency financial first aid kit duplicates for an added safeguard. 

During a power outage.

Maintaining basic comfort during short or extended outages is possible with some additional advance planning. Plus, knowing what to do while waiting out the grid failure could help ease tensions and keep your household safe. A robust emergency communication plan should include a checklist of activities based on your available resources and general preparedness. Some examples include:

• Staying warm and dry by dressing in layers
• Rotating portable light sources to conserve energy
• Safely using a generator according to manufacturer instructions
• Keeping refrigerators and freezers closed to avoid food spoilage
• Conserving cellphone power by turning off nonessential apps and functions
• Never using a gas oven or stove for heat to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning
• Staying up-to-date on emergency alerts and communications from local utility companies
• Filling an ice chest with enough ice for emergency items, such as medicines which must remain at a specific temperature
• Performing a safety check for electrical hazards, e.g., unplugging appliances, shutting off main power

Sitting out an outage can be nerve-racking, especially when you don’t know how soon the grid will be up and running again. Keep family members entertained with the activities and games in the emergency kit. If your home becomes too cold, consider temporarily moving to the nearby warming location noted in your emergency communication plan.

After a power outage.

While it’s tempting to quickly get back to life as normal when power returns, it’s crucial that you perform a safety check of appliances and electronic equipment first. They may have been affected by a power surge. Also, be sure to assess and replenish the emergency preparedness kit. Make note of what you wish you had included so you’ll have it next time the power goes out.

Refrigerated food that’s been sitting out at 40 degrees or higher should be discarded. It likely has bacterial growth that could make you sick. Food that now smells funny or seems discolored should be thrown out no matter how long it was kept out of the refrigerator or freezer.

Preparation can bring peace of mind and help ensure you stay warm, nourished, and illuminated during an electrical failure. Gather your supplies and write your plan today!

Also see:

• How to prepare your finances for a natural disaster.
• Wills and Estate Plans: Why you need them and steps to get started.