How to Prepare and Handle a Power Outage
Power outages can happen at any time, especially in bad weather, which in Raleigh can happen any time of the year. We get ice in the winter and hurricanes in the summer, which makes the area a target for power outages. With a little preparation, a loss of electricity is no more than a minor inconvenience.
Here are some tips on preparing and handling power outages:
- Install surge protectors. Often, the kick from power coming back on in a home and powering everything at once can create more problems than the outage itself. A home surge protector will help manage that push of power.
- Have an emergency kit. When the world goes dark, it’s not convenient to have to scramble around to find what you need. Have a dedicated place in the home for these things. Think about what you absolutely need and how to get it. Usually, the needs are light, heat, food and water, as well as some way to cook. If someone in the home has special needs, such as medical equipment that needs power, have plans for that. The key is knowing where these supplies are when you need them.
- Unplug from the world. If there aren’t surge protectors in the home, unplug power-sucking appliances and gadgets and make sure other electrical devices or appliances that were running when the power went out are turned off.
- Enjoy the down time. Once everything is safe and the emergency plan is in action, take advantage of the down time. If it’s an extended outage, all you can do is wait it out. Make sure to plan for this in the emergency kit.
Power outages don’t have to be emergencies if there’s a plan in place and you’ve prepared. If you want to protect your home from power outages, contact AGK Electric.
