Tips for Surviving Another California Power Outage

Massive wildfire seasons and extreme heat over the last decade have led to a number of power outages. Sometimes PG&E preemptively cuts power to reduce strain on the grid or prevent wildfires, while other times, the wildfires themselves are what cuts power to thousands, if not millions of customers.

Power outages are quickly becoming a way of life. In addition to their inconvenience, the outages are bad for anyone who needs electricity for medical devices or to keep food and medications cold, among others. If your health depends on having electricity, you may want to talk to a local electrical contractor in Oakdale, CA to explore your options.

Here’s how to survive a local power outage.

Preparing for a power outage

The first thing you should do is determine if there’s any electrical equipment that absolutely needs to stay on, even during an outage. For example, if you have temperature-sensitive medication that should be refrigerated, or medical equipment, you’ll need to make special provisions for their use. Make a list of all the non-negotiables, and consider getting a generator and transfer switch for seamless operation.

Next, make an emergency power outage kit. This should have enough candles, matches, flashlights, batteries, external phone batteries and non-perishable food and water for everyone in your family. You should also store hand sanitizer in the kit, in case you can’t wash your hands with soap and water. This is especially important if you rely on an electric well pump for running water.

As a general rule, you should always keep your phones charged and your gas tanks full, especially during summer and wildfire season. Make sure your home is always stocked up on supplies like paper goods, hygiene products, non-perishable food and cleaning supplies, to reduce unnecessary trips to the store during an outage.

Finally, it’s a good idea to keep a thermometer in your refrigerator so you can check the temperature when the power is restored. If the temperature is 40 degrees or higher, you’ll need to throw out your food.

What to do during an outage

Here are some tips to help you stay safe during a power outage:

• Keep refrigerators and freezers closed: If you leave your fridge and freezer closed during the outage, the insulation will protect your food for up to 48 hours. Stick to non-perishable foods during this time.
• Disconnect appliances and electronics: Unplug major appliances and electronics so they’re not damaged by a surge when the power comes back on.
• Do not use camp stoves or generators indoors: Using camp stoves and generators indoors can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Always use them outdoors in a well-ventilated area.
• Go to a community center if the temperature gets extreme: Homes can quickly heat up or cool down during power outages. If you’re starting to feel chilled, dizzy, woozy or otherwise ill, go to a community center to cool off or warm up.

Following these tips will help you survive the next inevitable power outage. For help from your local electrical contractors in Oakdale, CA, contact Wilkinson Electric Inc. today.

Categorised in: Electrician

This post was written by Writer