Ensure that your family and home are ready to face a power cut.
Shockingly, 6 out of 10 American households don’t have a family emergency plan. Even though power outages don’t typically last for more than a couple minutes thanks to trusty engineers, it’s good to know how to handle a long blackout with winter almost here. Electricity can be out for several hours from severe storms. With the necessities in place, you can even turn this inconvenience into an enjoyable experience.
Stock Up on Food
- Keep a 3- to 5-day supply of drinking water in jugs or bottles. Plan on at least 1 gallon of water per person, per day, as well as enough for your pets.
- Store a manual can opener with non-perishable foods for 3 to 5 days. Aim for canned chickpeas, beans, and peanut butter. Don’t forget pet foods!
- Conserve water by using plastic plates and plastic utensils.
- Have a camp stove or grill for outdoor cooking.
Keep in touch
- Have a portable, battery-powered radio and alarm clock.
- Have a non-portable phone that will work even if power is interrupted.
- Plan where to meet family members and how to communicate if separated.
- Keep essential family member contact information near your phone and in your wallet.
- Get your pets microchipped so that you can be reunited if separated.
Prepare a Kit
- Build an emergency kit well in advance of a storm (if you can.)
- Gather plenty of flashlights with extra batteries.
- Store a first aid kit that is close to reach.
Safeguard Your Appliances
- Turn off all large appliances if the power goes out.
- When the power comes back on, give the electric system a chance to stabilize by gradually using the appliances you turned off. Use only the essential first and then wait 15 minutes before turning on the others.
To protect your home throughout all sorts of disasters that are out of your control, visit the team at C.V. Mason Insurance Agency. Our home insurance policies work to protect residents in Bristol and neighboring cities in Connecticut. Give our experts a call for more information.
