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Don’t Get Left In The Dark: The Ultimate Guide To Power Outage Preparedness

July 3, 2024

We count on electricity to provide us with so many of the modern conveniences we use on a daily basis. That means it’s always a rude awakening when the power is cut off for whatever reason. Not only does this mean we have to go without lights and television, but also it means we must wash dishes by hand, hang wet laundry on a line, and worry about food spoilage.

This is why it’s a good idea to practice some basic power outage preparedness. Having a plan to be prepared for a power outage can help reduce the amount of stress you may experience when the lights go out in your neighborhood. Having a power outage checklist close at hand can provide you with peace of mind and help keep your family safe. Having a backup generator installed in your home is the ultimate solution for uninterrupted power, but it’s always important to be prepared for whatever you might encounter.

Understanding Power Outages

As dependable as the power grid might be in your community, there are a few circumstances that can lead to an outage. Power outage preparedness begins with understanding the risk factors that can lead to being without electricity. For example, outages can be caused by severe weather events, damaging power lines and other vital infrastructure. These can lead to total blackouts during which power is cut off to entire communities. Other times, there may be unanticipated demand that puts too much strain on the grid. This can lead to brownouts or rolling blackouts where power is either limited or only available during certain times of the day.

You may be at higher risk of experiencing a power outage if you live in a rural area where infrastructure is limited. If you live in an area that frequently experiences severe weather such as tornadoes or hurricanes, there’s also an elevated danger of being without electricity. Power outage preparedness is especially important for certain at-risk populations including the elderly and those who depend on specialized medical equipment.

With a whole-house generator on duty, whenever the power goes out, your power automatically kicks on, so you’ll never miss a beat.

Essential Power Outage Preparation

Having a blackout preparedness plan is critical to minimize disruptions to your daily routine and the ensure the safety of your family. The elements that should go into your emergency preparedness for a power outage include:

  • Emergency Kit: You should keep a power outage survival kit stashed in an easily accessible place in your home. A power outage preparedness kit at least should include items such as flashlights, batteries, bottled water, non-perishable food and first aid supplies. Make sure everyone in your family knows where your power outage supplies are stored. Check the contents annually to make sure nothing has expired or gone missing.
  • Home Safety Precautions: Preparing for a power outage also means knowing how to be safe while you try to work around being without electricity. This means placing lit candles on plates or other nonflammable surfaces, knowing how to use your fireplace safely and being able to recognize when food has spoiled.
  • Communication Plan: Staying in touch with loved ones and the outside world is important during an outage. You should have a battery-powered radio ready to go for news and other important updates, as well as fully charged battery packs to keep your cell phones charged. Keep a list of emergency contacts with your power outage supplies in case anyone in your home requires help.

Backup Power: The Ultimate Solution

Having an emergency plan for power outages is essential, but installing a backup generator for your home can mean you’ll barely even notice it whenever the grid fails. Powered by propane, a natural gas connection or solar panels in some cases, these generators automatically click on whenever the power supply to your home is interrupted for any reason. They’re fully capable of providing all the emergency power you need to keep your lights, appliances, and other essential systems running during an outage.

With a whole-home generator installed on your property, you can have peace of mind. They also prevent food spoilage in your refrigerator and freezer. This equipment can also be essential if you or someone else in your house depends on electronic medical devices.

Your Power Outage Preparedness Checklist

To help you prepare for an unexpected grid failure, here’s a handy power outage checklist:

Before the Outage:

Essential Power Outage Supplies:

[ ] Flashlights and extra batteries (one for every household member)

[ ] Battery-powered or hand-crank radio

[ ] First-aid kit

[ ] Water (one gallon per person per day for several days)

[ ] Non-perishable food (enough for several days)

[ ] Manual can opener

[ ] Essential medications and medical supplies

[ ] Cash (in case ATMs are affected)

[ ] Copies of important documents (insurance cards, medical records, etc.)

Home Preparation:

[ ] Know how to manually open your garage door if it’s electrically operated.

[ ] Have a fire extinguisher and know how to use it.

[ ] Ensure your carbon monoxide detectors are working.

Generator Preparation (if you have one):

[ ] Ensure your Generac generator is properly maintained and serviced.

[ ] Have enough fuel stored safely.

[ ] Test your generator regularly to ensure it works correctly.

During the Outage:

Safety First:

[ ] Unplug appliances and electronics to prevent damage from power surges.

[ ] Use flashlights instead of candles to avoid fire hazards.

[ ] Avoid opening the refrigerator and freezer to keep food cold.

[ ] Never use a generator indoors or in enclosed spaces.

Stay Informed:

[ ] Monitor local news and weather reports on your battery-powered radio.

[ ] Follow updates from your utility company on restoration efforts.

[ ] Check on neighbors, especially those who are elderly or need special assistance.

After the Outage:

Food Safety:

[ ] Discard any perishable food that has been above 40° Fahrenheit for two hours or more.

[ ] If in doubt, throw it out!

Generator Maintenance:

[ ] Refuel your generator and schedule a maintenance check with Canter Power Systems.

Review and Improve:

[ ] Reflect on what worked and what didn’t during the outage.

[ ] Update your emergency kit and family communication plan as needed.

Stay Prepared With Canter Power Systems

Being ready for a power outage means you can make it through with minimal disruption to your daily life. Of course, having a whole-home backup generator from the industry’s top manufacturer means you may never have to worry about it at all. Canter Power is your one true source for Generac generator installation and reliable standby generator maintenance to keep yours in good working order. We offer a wide range of generator service plans to provide you with additional security. To get started, see the following resource to learn more about sizing a whole-house generator so you can get exactly what you need. To learn more, contact Canter Power today at
877-799-3446.

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