Safety tips if you lose electricity:
- Unless there is an emergency, do not call 9-1-1.
- Stay away from downed power lines.
- Avoid opening your refrigerator and freezer if possible. Food will stay cold for hours if they are left closed. A fully-loaded refrigerator will keep food cold for about six hours. A fully-loaded freezer will keep food cold for about 48 hours. Discard any cold food with a temperature above 40 degrees.
- Unplug computers, TVs, stereos and other unnecessary electronic equipment and appliances at the power source. A power surge when electricity is restored could damage these items.
- DO NOT USE kerosene heaters, BBQs, or any outdoor type heater indoors. They create toxic gases.
- Check on your elderly neighbors or those who may have medical conditions or use medical machinery that operates on electricity.
- If you must go out, remember traffic signals may be out during a power outage. Treat all intersections as four-way stops and drive defensively.
- Never plug a generator into electric outlets or into your home’s power supply. This can feed electricity back into power lines and injure or kill crews working to restore power. Instead, plug appliances or equipment directly into the generator.
