Power Outage

As we become more and more dependent on electricity for everything we do, a long-term power outage can quickly turn from a momentary inconvenience to an outright disaster.

Kitchen Appliances Stop and consider everything you do on a daily basis that requires electricity; cooking, heating or cooling our homes, lighting, running water for drinking, bathing & washing dishes and clothes, refrigeration of food, and communication needs; phones, radio, television and the internet.

And what about family members that are dependent on special equipment such as a respirator, ventilator, oxygen concentrator, suction machine, medication compressor.

You can greatly lessen the impact of power outage by taking the time to prepare in advance.

You and your family should be prepared to cope on your own during a power outage for at least 72 hours.

You should consider such options as a portable generator and battery backups.

Also establish a contingency plan for extreme emergencies for members of your household with special needs.

CDC Recommendations

CDC recommends that people make an emergency plan that includes a disaster survival supply kit. This kit should include:

Flashlights and extra batteries.
A battery-powered radio with fresh batteries.
Water for drinking and cooking.
A portable heater (such as kerosene or LP gas).
Camping equipment such as sleeping bags, a portable lamp or lantern, and a camp stove.
A telephone that does not require electricity to operate. Cordless phones do not work when the power is off.

Emergency Lantern Its best to use battery-powered flashlights and lanterns, rather than candles, gas lanterns, or torches (to minimize the risk of fire).

During the winter, try to live in one room. Choose the room with the fireplace or one that can be heated easily with a portable heater.

Preparing your home

You can install a non-electric standby stove or heater. Choose heating units that are not dependent on an electric motor, electric fan, or some other electric device to function. It is important to adequately vent the stove or heater with the type of chimney flue specified for it. Never connect two heating units to the same chimney flue at the same time.

If you have a wood-burning fireplace, have the chimney cleaned every fall in preparation for use and to eliminate creosote build-up which could ignite and cause a chimney fire. If the standby heating unit will use the normal house oil or gas supply, have it connected with shut-off valves by a certified tradesperson.

Before considering the use of an emergency generator during a power outage, check with furnace, appliance and lighting fixture dealers or manufacturers regarding power requirements and proper operating procedures.

During a Power Outage

Turn off all tools, appliances and electronic equipment, and turn the thermostat(s) for the home heating system down to minimum to prevent damage from a power surge when power is restored. Also, power can be restored more easily when there is not a heavy load on the electrical system.

Turn off all lights, except one inside and one outside, so that both you and hydro crews outside know that power outage is over and has been restored.

Don't open your freezer or fridge unless it is absolutely necessary. A full freezer will keep food frozen for 24 to 36 hours if the door remains closed.

Never use charcoal or gas barbecues, camping heating equipment, or home generators indoors. They give off carbon monoxide. Because you can't smell or see it, carbon monoxide can cause health problems and is life-threatening.

Use proper candle holders. Never leave lit candles unattended and keep out of reach of children. Always extinguish candles before going to bed.

Listen to your battery-powered or wind-up radio for information on the power outage and advice from authorities

Use of Home Generators

Kohler Home Generator Home generators are handy for backup electricity in case of a power outage, but must only be used in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines.

A back-up generator may only be connected to your home's electrical system through an approved transfer panel and switch that has been installed by a qualified electrician.

Never plug a generator into a wall outlet as serious injury can result when the current produced by the home generator is fed back into the electrical lines, and transformed to a higher voltage. This can endanger the lives of utility employees working to restore the power.

To operate a generator safely:

Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Ensure that the generator operates outdoors in well-ventilated conditions, well away from doors or windows, to prevent exhaust gases from entering the house.
Connect lights and appliances directly to the generator. If extension cords must be used, ensure they are properly rated, CSA-approved cords.

When the Power Returns

Give the electrical system a chance to stabilize before reconnecting tools and appliances. Turn the heating-system thermostats up first, followed in a couple of minutes by reconnection of the fridge and freezer. Wait 10 to 15 minutes before reconnecting all other tools and appliances.
Close the drain valve in the basement.
Turn on the water supply. Close lowest valves/taps first and allow air to escape from upper taps.
Make sure that the hot water heater is filled before turning on the power to it.
Check food supplies in refrigerators, freezers and cupboards for signs of spoilage. If a freezer door has been kept closed, food should stay frozen 24 to 36 hours, depending on the temperature. When food begins to defrost (usually after two days), it should be cooked; otherwise it should be thrown out.
As a general precaution, keep a bag of ice cubes in the freezer. If you return home after a period of absence and the ice has melted and refrozen, there is a good chance that the food is spoiled. When in doubt, throw it out!
Reset your clocks, automatic timers, and alarms.
Restock your emergency kit so the supplies will be there when needed again.

First Aid for Electrical Shock

If you believe someone has been electrocuted take the following steps:

Look first. Don’t touch. The person may still be in contact with the electrical source. Touching the person may pass the current through you.

Call or have someone else call 911 or emergency medical help.

Turn off the source of electricity if possible. If not, move the source away from you and the affected person using a nonconducting object made of cardboard, plastic or wood.

Once the person is free of the source of electricity, check the person's breathing and pulse. If either has stopped or seems dangerously slow or shallow, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately.
If the person is faint or pale or shows other signs of shock, lay the person down with the head slightly lower than the trunk of his or her body and the legs elevated.

Don’t touch burns, break blisters, or remove burned clothing. Electrical shock may cause burns inside the body, so be sure the person is taken to a doctor.

Power Line Hazards and Cars

If a power line falls on a car, you should stay inside the vehicle. This is the safest place to stay. Warn people not to touch the car or the line. Call or ask someone to call the local utility company and emergency services.

The only circumstance in which you should consider leaving a car that is in contact with a downed power line is if the vehicle catches on fire. Open the door. Do not step out of the car. You may receive a shock. Instead, jump free of the car so that your body clears the vehicle before touching the ground. Once you clear the car, shuffle at least 50 feet away, with both feet on the ground.

As in all power line related emergencies, call for help immediately by dialing 911 or call your electric utility company's Service Center/Dispatch Office.

***Do not try to help someone else from the car while you are standing on the ground.***

Safe Drinking Water

Drop of Water When power goes out, water purification systems may not be functioning fully. Safe water for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene includes bottled, boiled, or treated water.

Your state and local health department can make specific recommendations for boiling or treating water in your area during and after a disaster. Watch your local news for a Boil Water Advisory (BWA).

Advisories are issued when an event has occurred allowing the possibility for the water distribution system to become contaminated. An advisory does not mean that the water is contaminated, but rather that it could be contaminated; because the water quality is unknown, customers should assume the water is unsafe to drink and take the appropriate precautions.

A Boil Water Notice is issued when contamination is confirmed in the water system. During a notice, all customers must boil their water before consuming it or use bottled water.

Food Safety

If the power is out for less than 2 hours, then the food in your refrigerator and freezer will be safe to consume. During a power outage keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to keep food cold for longer.

If the power outage lasts longer than 2 hours, follow the guidelines below:

For the Freezer section: A freezer that is half full will hold food safely for up to 24 hours. A full freezer will hold food safely for 48 hours. Do not open the freezer door if you can avoid it.

For the Refrigerated section: Pack milk, other dairy products, meat, fish, eggs, and spoilable leftovers into a cooler surrounded by ice. Inexpensive Styrofoam coolers are fine for this purpose.

Use a food thermometer to check the temperature of your food right before you cook or eat it. Throw away any food that has a temperature of more than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sources

Food Safety After a Power Outage, American Red Cross
Provides tips on safely storing your food and a chart to help you determine if your food is still safe.

Keeping Food Safe in an Emergency, United States Department of Agriculture Fact sheet and FAQs on food and water safety including guidance on when to discard perishable foods.

Being Prepared, American Red Cross
Comprehensive site on preparing for emergencies including power outages.

Food Safety Office, CDC
Comprehensive food safety information