|
 “Unfortunately, heavy snow and accumulating ice can
easily bring tree limbs down on power lines, cutting off power to
homes and businesses,” says Erin Hollinshead, executive director of
Safe Electricity. “Even melting ice can be a problem because it can
cause power lines to sag from the added weight.
“Planning for future outages brought on by severe winter conditions
can make riding out a prolonged power outage safer and a little more
comfortable,” Hollinshead advises.
How long it takes for your power to be restored depends on several
factors: the extent of the storm’s destruction, the number of
outages in your area, and when it becomes safe for utility personnel
to get to the affected areas.
Take steps to help keep your family safe and comfortable during a
winter storm long before one is forecast. A good way to start is to
put an emergency kit together. Safe Electricity suggests starting
with these items:
-
Water: Stock up on bottled water for consumption.
FEMA recommends storing at least one gallon per person, per day.
-
Food: Have at least enough food, including
non-perishable packaged or canned foods, juices, special foods
for infants or the elderly, and snack foods, for three to seven
days.
-
Utensils: Without electricity, be sure you have a
manual can opener, paper plates, and plastic utensils.
-
Layers and added warmth: Gather blankets,
pillows, and warm clothing items.
-
Medicine and other items: Locate a first aid kit,
medicine, prescription drugs, and any essential medical
equipment.
-
A charged cell phone: Most people are used to
having their phones with them, but also have a portable,
fully-charged power pack on hand.
Also gather:
-
Toiletries, hygiene items, and moist towelettes.
-
Flashlight and extra batteries.
-
Battery-operated radio or a NOAA weather radio.
-
List of emergency telephone numbers, including
your local utilities.
-
Toys, books, and games.
-
Pet food and other pet-care items.
-
Supplies for alternate heating methods, such as a
fireplace or wood-burning stove.
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In advance of a storm, have the power company or a
tree-trimming professional remove limbs that could fall on power
lines if they become covered in ice or snow. Only certified line
clearance tree trimming professionals are authorized and allowed to
trim trees near power lines.
"Insulate your home by installing storm windows or plastic covering
on windows and caulk any cracks in your home," Hollinshead says.
"Finally, make sure the heating system is in proper working order."
Other safety tips include:
-
Use caution when using a portable generator.
-
Never use a portable generator indoors, in a
garage, or near windows or doors because they omit deadly carbon
monoxide.
-
Never plug a portable generator into a wall
outlet. Doing so can create deadly backfeed, which occurs when
electricity travels from the generator back through the power
lines.
-
Monitor the temperature in your home. Infants and
elderly people are more susceptible to the cold.
-
Avoid going outside. Downed power lines could be
submerged in snow and ice, making them difficult to identify.
Consider all downed and hanging lines energized and deadly.
Along with causing outages, wintery conditions can
create hiccups in power delivery that include blinking lights or
ebbs and flows in the amount of power that comes into your home.
Although blinking lights can be a symptom of other problems such as
loose wiring connections or overloaded circuits, they can also be
caused by extreme weather conditions. When this happens, protect
your circuits and appliances by switching off lights and unplugging
devices.
For more information about preparing for a winter storm and
electrical safety, visit SafeElectricity.org.
[WRITER: Ann Augspurger, Safe
Electricity, Communications Director] |
