MASSACHUSETTS ADVICE THAT GEORGIANS CAN USE
Here are tips from the Massachusetts state government, which knows a bit about preparing for a winter storm. Remember, plan ahead. Don’t wait for the electricity to go off to do these things.
Before an Outage
• Check flashlights and portable radios to ensure they work, and make sure you have batteries, food, water and other key supplies.
• If a storm is coming that may bring power outages, fully charge your cell phone, laptop, and any other devices in advance of a power outage.
• Keep extra batteries for your phone. You can also buy a hand-cranked charger. If you own a car, purchase a car phone charger in case you lose power at home.
• If a storm is coming that may bring power outages and you have a well-water pump water system, fill spare containers and fill your bathtub for sanitation purposes only, not as drinking water. Pouring a pail of water from the tub directly into the bowl can flush a toilet.
• Set your refrigerator and freezer to colder settings to prepare for an outage. Remember to reset them back to normal once power is restored. During an outage, do not open the refrigerator or freezer door. Food can stay cold in a full refrigerator for up to 24 hours, and in a well-packed freezer for 48 hours (24 hours if it is half-packed).
• Have sufficient heating fuel, as regular sources may be cut off. Have emergency heating equipment and fuel (a gas fireplace, wood burning stove or fireplace) to keep one room livable. Be sure the room is well ventilated.
• To keep pipes from freezing, wrap them in insulation or layers of newspapers, covering the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture. Let faucets drip a little to avoid freezing.
• Know how to shut off water valves. If pipes freeze, remove insulation, completely open all faucets and pour hot water over the pipes, starting where they are most exposed to the cold. A hand-held hair dryer, used with caution, also works well. Do not use torches or other flame sources to thaw pipes as this cause fires.
• If you have medication that requires refrigeration, check with your pharmacist on proper storage during an extended outage. Remember, if its cold outside, you can store it on a porch.
• If you use medical equipment in your home that requires electricity, talk to your health care provider about how you can prepare for its use during a power outage. Ensure you have extra batteries for medical equipment and assistive devices.
• If you have life-support devices that depend on electricity, contact your local electric company about your power needs for life-support devices (home dialysis, suction, breathing machines, etc.) in advance. Talk to your equipment suppliers about power options and also let the fire department know that you are dependent on life-support devices.
• Keep your car tank at least half full because gas stations rely on electricity to power their pumps.
• Know where the manual release lever of your electric garage door opener is located and how to operate it. Garage doors can be heavy, so know that you may need help to lift it.
• Consider purchasing a generator to provide power during an outage. Follow manufacturer’s instructions and know how to use it safely.
During an outage
• Use 9-1-1 only for emergencies. Do not call to ask for advice or report your power outage. Call utility companies to report outages.
• Check in on friends, family, and neighbors, particularly those most susceptible to extreme temperatures.
• If the power is out, use flashlights or other battery-powered lights if possible, instead of candles. If you must use them, place candles in safe holders away from anything that could catch fire. Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and guidelines when using a generator. Always use outdoors, away from windows and doors. Carbon monoxide fumes are odorless and can quickly accumulate indoors and be deadly. Never try to power the house wiring by plugging the generator directly into household wiring. This is extremely dangerous and presents an electrocution risk to utility workers and neighbors served by the same utility transformer. It also bypasses some of the built-in household circuit protection devices.
• Ensure that your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors are working correctly and have fresh batteries. Check your outside fuel exhaust vents, making sure that they are not obstructed by snow or ice.
• Never use cooking equipment intended for outside use indoors as a heat source or cooking device.
• Wear layers of loose fitting, lightweight, warm clothing, rather than one layer of heavy clothing. Wear hats, mittens, scarves and other clothing to keep your entire body warm. If you need it, see if your community has “warming centers” or shelters open.
• If you lose your heat, seal off unused rooms by stuffing towels in the cracks under the doors. At night, cover windows with extra blankets or sheets.
• Unplug all sensitive electronic equipment, including TVs, stereos and computers to prevent damage when power is restored.
• Leave on one light so that you’ll know when your power returns.
• If a traffic light is out, treat it as a four-way stop.
• Beware if you go outside to inspect for damage after a storm. Downed or hanging electrical wires can be hidden by snowdrifts, trees or debris, and could be live. Never attempt to touch or moved downed lines. Keep children and pets away from them.
• Do not touch anything power lines are touching, such as tree branches or fences. Always assume a downed line is live. Call your utility company.
• Throw away any food that has been exposed to temperatures 40° F (4° C) for 2 hours or more or that has an unusual odor, color or texture. When in doubt, throw it out!
The winter weather headed for Atlanta could bring the worst ice storms the region has seen in years, according to Georgia Power.
Clinging ice could pull down trees and power lines, darken grids and bring a host of problems.
Jennifer Brett of The Buzz has already offered up suggestions for an automobile survival kit in case Son of SnowJam keeps you in your car another 15 hours.
Wise homeowners will also prepare their houses for power loss. While dinner by candlelight is romantic, stepping on the dog while trying to find a flashlight in the dark is not.
Ahead of the storm
- Fill up your car. Charge your cellphone and laptop. Check batteries in your flashlights. Put the flashlights where they are easy to find.
- Consider putting adhesive-backed, battery-powered mini LED lights in a few locations around the house.
- Your cellphone is a lifeline. Buy a cell-charger that plugs into the car's cigarette lighter.
During the outage
- Don't go near downed power lines. Never try to pull tree limbs off downed lines. Don't go into an area filled with debris or toppled trees: they could hide downed lines. Don't touch anything a power line is touching, such as a chain-link fence.
- Don't leave a lighted candle unattended.
- Keep the refrigerator and freezer closed. A well-packed refrigerator can keep food cold for up to 24 hours. Throw away food that has been above 40 degrees for more than two hours, or food that has an unusual odor, color or texture.
Portable generators
The newly popular portable generators can power critical appliances, and keep food frozen and computers running, but such generators also bring risks.
Odorless carbon monoxide fumes from portable generators can kill whole families, and can do so within minutes, according to the Consumer Products Safety Commission. Police say at least nine people in the New Jersey area died of carbon monoxide poisoning while using portable generators after Hurricane Sandy.
Many carbon monoxide deaths have occurred when homeowners operated a portable generator inside a living space. Always use portable generators outdoors, well away from windows and vents, and never in a basement, garage, shed or crawl space.
Georgia Power spokesman John Kraft said that electrical appliances should be plugged directly into the generator using a properly rated and grounded extension cable.
He warned that homeowners should never connect a portable generator into a household’s electrical wiring or attempt to restore power to a house by plugging a portable generator into a wall outlet. Such a practice, called “backfeeding,” can send power back into downed lines, which could electrocute power company crews working on lines that were presumed dead.
After the storm
- Turn off large appliances that were running when the power went out. That way you won't go to bed with the stove still on.
- Unplug delicate electronics, including computers and televisions, before power is restored. Energy spikes can damage them.
About the Author
