3 Ways To Better Prepare For Extended Power Outages

Regardless of what kind of weather you might be facing in your area, one thing that’s always a possibility is a power outage. So to help you and your family to be ready for this type of emergency, here are three ways to better prepare for extended power outages.

Use Your Fridge Correctly

Having food to eat over the course of the power outage is one of the most vital needs you and your family will have. While food on your shelves likely will last you for weeks, months, or even years before going bad, the food in your fridge or freezer will need extra care in order to remain safe.

According to Heather Levin, a contributor to Money Crashers, if you leave your fridge closed, it will likely only keep your food cold for four hours. As for your fridge, you’ll want to get rid of food after 24 to 48 hours of no power. So unless you have another type of chiller or cooler, you’ll need to be very careful about how often you’re opening your refrigerator and when you eat or throw out the food that’s stored there.

Keep Multiple Light Sources On-Hand

While your life during the day might not be that much different during a power outage, once the sun goes down, not being able to turn the lights on in your home can get a little scary.

To help you feel safe as well as enable you to see anything you need, Dana McMahan, a contributor to NBC News, recommends that you stock up now with multiple light sources. By having things like candles, flashlights and lanterns, you’ll have a better chance of maintaining the amount of light you’re comfortable with. Also, try to have a lot of extra batteries on-hand as well as some light sources that don’t need batteries to function.

Get A Generate, And Be Smart When Using It

To make life a lot easier during an extended power outage, you may want to consider getting a generator. With a generator, you’ll be able to supply power to vital parts of your home in order to keep things running a little more smoothly while the power is out.

But while having a generator can be advantageous, Haniya Rae, a contributor to Consumer Reports, shares that you’ll need to be careful and smart when using it. Never run your generator indoors, as it can let off carbon monoxide and kill those within your house. When you do run your generator, try to keep it at least 20 feet away from your home and position the exhaust away from houses, doors, or windows.

If you want to be more prepared in the event a major power outage happens in your area, consider using the tips mentioned above to help.