Winter Storm Power Outage Safety Tips

For those of us living in New England, we are currently preparing for a violent "bomb cyclone" that could produce blizzard conditions and hurricane-like winds in eastern New England. As such, we have created a list of considerations to help you prepare in the unfortunate event you experience a power outage. 

WHAT TO DO BEFORE A POWER OUTAGE

• Be informed by receiving alerts, warnings and public safety information before, during and after emergencies. Download your States Emergency Alerts app.
• Enroll in your community’s local notification system to receive calls, texts, or emails on your cellphone. Go online to your community’s webpage or contact your local public safety officials to enroll.
• Sign up for text or email alerts from your utility providers for outage updates.
• Create and review your family emergency plan.
• Assemble an emergency kit. 
• Fully charge your cellphone, laptop, and other electronic devices such as portable power banks for your cell phone.
• Make sure you have alternate charging methods (such as auto, solar, or crank chargers) for cellphones and other devices that require power.
• Check flashlights and battery-powered portable radios to ensure that they are working, and you have extra batteries. 
• Make sure your home is properly insulated. Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows to keep cold air out.
• Let faucets drip a little to avoid freezing.
• Know how to shut off water valves.
• Pouring a pail of water from the tub directly into the bowl can flush a toilet.
• Stock up on food that doesn’t require cooking or refrigeration: fruit, bread, crackers, peanut butter, tuna fish, canned vegetables, protein bars, etc.
• Set your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings (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).
• If you have medication that requires refrigeration, check with your pharmacist for guidance on proper storage during an extended outage.
• Know how to operate the manual release lever for your electric garage door opener.

PREPARE YOUR HOME:

• Ensure that your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working and have fresh batteries.
• Consider purchasing a generator to provide power during an outage. If you have a generator, make certain it has fuel and is in working condition. Start the generator and let it run for 10 minutes. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and learn how to use it safely before an outage.
• Ensure that you have sufficient heating fuel as well as dry wood for fireplaces or wood-stoves.
• If you have a landline phone with a corded receiver…congratulations for hanging on to that bit of nostalgia as it may come in handy. 

IF YOU HAVE LIFE-SUPPORT DEVICES, SUCH AS HOME DIALYSIS OR BREATHING MACHINES, OR OTHER MEDICAL EQUIPMENT OR SUPPLIES, THAT DEPEND ON ELECTRICITY:

• Talk to your health care provider about how to use them during a power outage;
• Contact your local electric company and equipment suppliers about your power needs. Some utility companies will put you on a "priority reconnection service" list;
• Alert the fire department that you are dependent on life-support devices;
• If you have medication that requires refrigeration, check with your pharmacist for guidance on proper storage during an extended outage.

IF AN IMPENDING STORM IS EXPECTED TO CAUSE POWER OUTAGES, CONSIDER THESE ADDITIONAL TIPS TO PREPARE:

• If you have a water supply (such as a well-water pump system) that could be affected by a power outage, fill your bathtub and spare containers with water. The water in the bathtub should be used for sanitation purposes only. You can pour a bucket of this water directly into the toilet bowl to flush it.
• Keep your car’s gas tank full. Pumps at gas stations may not work during a power outage.
• Set your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings to keep food cold (but remember to reset them back to normal once power is restored).

WHAT TO DO DURING A POWER OUTAGE

• Continue to monitor the media for emergency information.
• Follow instructions from public safety officials.
• Customers served by a municipal utility should locate their utility providers’ phone numbers.
• Stay away from downed utility wires. Always assume a downed power line is live.
• If a traffic light is out, treat the intersection as a four-way stop.
• Take recommended safety precautions when using space heaters, a fireplace, or a woodstove to heat your home. Keep a fire extinguisher handy.
• Use generators and grills outside as fumes contain carbon monoxide.
• If possible, use flashlights instead of candles. If you must use candles, place them in safe holders away from anything that could catch fire. Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed.  An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours. A full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours.
• If necessary, keep refrigerated food cold outside in a secure location safe from animals or contamination.
• If phone lines are down, use social media or texting to let others know you are okay.
• In order to protect against possible voltage irregularities that can occur when power is restored, you should unplug all sensitive electronic equipment, including TVs, stereo, microwave oven, computer, etc.
• Be a good neighbor. Check on family, friends, and neighbors, especially the elderly, those who live alone, those with medical conditions, and those who may need additional assistance.
• Dress for the season, wearing several layers of loose fitting, lightweight, warm clothing, rather than one layer of heavy clothing. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent.
• Mittens are better than gloves.
• Wear a hat; body heat is lost through the top of the head as well as exposed skin.
• Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.
• Watch for signs of frostbite: loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in the extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes or the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, seek medical help immediately.
• Watch for signs of hypothermia: uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and apparent exhaustion. If symptoms are detected, get the victim to a warm location, remove any wet clothing, warm the center of the body first and give warm, non-alcoholic beverages, if the victim is conscious. Get medical help, as soon as possible.
• Snow can be melted for an additional water source.

WHAT TO DO AFTER A POWER OUTAGE

• Be extra cautious 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.
• Throw away any refrigerated food that was exposed to temperatures above 40 °F for more than two hours or has an unusual odor, color, or texture. When in doubt, throw it out!
• Contact your doctor if you’re concerned that medications have spoiled.
• Check with/help neighbors.
• Take a vacation someplace warm!

Gerard Boniello is the Managing Partner at Omnium Protection Group, an executive level security firm, based just outside Boston, MA. He has been involved in the security industry for more than 25 years and is considered a SME on Executive Protection. For more info please visit www.omniumpg.com or follow their Facebook page.