Before a Blackout / Power Outage
To help preserve your food, keep the following supplies in your home:
- One or more coolers—Inexpensive Styrofoam coolers work well.
- Ice—Surrounding your food with ice in a cooler or in the refrigerator will keep food colder for a longer period of time during a prolonged power outage.
- A digital quickresponse thermometer— With these thermometers you can quickly check the internal temperatures of food to ensure they are cold enough to use safely.
Put together an emergency preparedness kit with these supplies in case of a prolonged or widespread power outage:
- Water – one gallon per person, per day (3 day supply for evacuation, 2 week supply for home)
- Food – nonperishable, easy to prepare items (3 day supply for evacuation, 2 week supply for home)
- Flashlight
(NOTE: Do not use candles during a power outage due to the extreme risk of fire.)
- Battery powered or handcrank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
- Extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Medications (7day supply) and medical items
- Multipurpose tool
- Sanitation and personal hygiene items
- Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, deed/lease to home, birth certificates, insurance policies)
- Cell phone with chargers
- Family and emergency contact information
- Extra cash . If someone in your home is dependent on electricpowered, lifesustaining equipment, remember to include backup power in your evacuation plan. . Keep a noncordless telephone in your home. It is likely to work even when the power is out. . Keep your car’s gas tank full.
All information above is from the Red Cross website.
For more information and resources on Blackout/Power Outage Preparedness, please visit the web sites below.
American Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/
Ready Gov
http://www.ready.gov/
CDC – Center For Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/
US Department of Homeland Security – FEMA
http://www.fema.gov/
