What to Do First
- Check your breakers (if you can do so safely). The outage may exist only in your home or business due to a blown fuse or tripped circuit.
- If you've checked and your breakers are still without power, report the outage to your electric company:
- Stay indoors if at all possible. There may be downed power lines nearby. Stay at least 35 feet away from any downed lines, and never remove tree limbs that are touching or near a downed wire.
During a Freeze
- Stay Warm:
- Wearing layers will help retain your body heat.
- Get under some blankets and hang dark blankets over windows to draw more heat from sunlight. They can reduce the amount of heat that escapes through your windows.
- Close off unneeded rooms.
- Stuff towels or rags in cracks under exterior doors.
- Stay Safe:
- Never leave space heaters, heating pads, and electric blankets unattended while in use.
- Do not heat your house with a gas oven, gas generator or camping stove.
- Never burn anything in a stove or fireplace that is not vented, and do not burn paper in a fireplace.
- Check that all carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms are working.
- Keep heat sources, like space heaters, at least 3 feet away from drapes, furniture, bedding, or anything combustible.
Keeping Food Cold
- Home refrigerators can keep food cold enough for a day or two without power.
- Keep refrigerator/freezer doors closed as much as possible.
- Add snow/ice from outside if it starts to thaw.
____________________
