Blog: What to Do When the Power Goes Out

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Being in a power outage can be very frustrating. Here is some advice that may help you the next time there is a storm and you lose power for a few or more days.

To avoid darkness:

• Attach a strip of glow-in-the-dark tape to your flashlights to make them easy to find.
• Invest in headlamps. You will have your hands free and can even read a book in bed while wearing one.
• Stock up on kerosene lamps (visit secondhand stores and flea markets), lamp oil, and wicks before the next storm.
• Buy candles when they are on sale (after-Christmas sales are great!). It doesn't matter if they are all red!

To stay warm:

• As soon as the power goes out, drape all windows with blankets or whatever you have. Uncover south-facing windows during the day to let in the Sun's warmth.
• Select one room in which people—and pets—can spend most of their time together. Close off the doorway and try to let the collective body heat accumulate in that room.
• Call shelters and hotels to see if they will allow pets, in case you need to leave your home and bring your pets.

Cooking and eating:

• Have potluck dinners with your neighbors and take turns hosting. You'll be eating better and getting to know your neighbors at the same time.
• Use your outdoor grill for cooking, but only outdoors. Never use one indoors. Look for great recipes in our database.

To avoid damage:

• Protect water pipes from freezing by wrapping them with layers of newspapers and then plastic wrap.
• To avoid damage from falling branches, don't park your cars under trees.
• Open your refrigerator or freezer door only when absolutely necessary. Plan ahead to minimize the time the door is open.
• Fill clean plastic milk jugs with water and put outside to freeze solid (if the weather is cold enough). Put these jugs into coolers, which can serve as temporary refrigerators.
• Take your houseplants to your workplace or a friend's house.

For folks who lose their water when the power goes out:

• Fill up your bathtub with water when a storm threatens (for washing and flushing).
• Pack snow in buckets and bring indoors to melt.

Do you have any helpful power outage tips? Please share them below.