In Massachusetts, we are not new to losing power, especially in the winter. We always are involved in major winter storms such as snow, ice, sleet, rain, and wind which can have a major effect on our power lines. Usually, we can expect that power will be restored within the hour, but sometimes it takes longer. If this happens to your home, are you prepared?
Prepare a Power Outage Emergency Kit
In this kit, you should have at least 3 days of drinking water. You need to make sure that there will be plenty for everyone in your home. You should also have non-perishable food items that should be enough for everyone. You also want to be sure you have some of these in your kit as well:
- First aid kit
- Flashlights
- Extra batteries
- Portable chargers
Protect Your Food From Thawing
Before the power goes out if you think there will be a power outage, immediately turn down the temperature to your refrigerator or freezer. If the electricity goes out, you will be able to keep your food fresh and cold longer. Make sure you keep the doors closed to retain the cold air. In the refrigerator, food can stay cold for 4-6 hours, in the freezer it can stay cold for 48 hours.
Stay aware of Generators and Space Heaters
If you lose power and plan to use a generator, do not set it up inside your home. A general rule of thumb with generators is to keep them at least 10 feet away from your house. Make sure that you are cautious of carbon monoxide poisoning. You should check that your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working. If you are using a propane space heater, check the label to be sure it can be used inside.
Layer up Against the Cold
If you don’t have a space heater or generator, make sure you are layering up. Grab as many blankets and sweaters as you can to keep everyone warm. Choose a room in your home to stay in to set up everyone inside. If it gets to be too cold, look for your local shelter in your community. If you plan to stay in your house, make sure you do this:
- Close off any unused rooms to keep the heat contained.
- Block any drafty doors and windows using towels, or anything around your home to keep the cold out.
- DO NOT use the stove or oven to heat your house because it can be a fire hazard or carbon monoxide poisoning.
It is so important to plan ahead of time to make getting through power outages easier. Another step is ensuring you have the right insurance if things go wrong such as water damage or fires caused by power outages. At TJ Woods Insurance we can help you prepare for claim resolutions before trouble strikes, learn more about personal insurance here. If you ever run into trouble and something goes wrong inside your home, contact the professionals at TJ Woods Insurance. We can help get any homeowners insurance issues under control.
