Blackout Preparedness Information
Power outages can be a minor inconvenience or, in the event of a prolonged or widespread outage, a major catastrophe. Have you considered what you and your family would do if the power was out for days or if your entire community or city was without power for a prolonged period of time?
Building an emergency kit and making a plan with your family can help keep you and your family as safe and comfortable as possible in a variety of emergency situations.
Food Safety
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to keep food fresh.
- Food can remain cold in your unopened refrigerator for up to 4 hours.
- Water treatment plants may be impacted, so ensure you have safe drinking water.
- Include a supply of non-perishable food and plenty of drinking water in your emergency kit.
Medical Needs
- Ensure back-up batteries or a power source such as a generator is available to power life-sustaining medical equipment.
- Make a plan to store medications that require refrigeration.
- Keep a radio or battery powered television handy to receive updates and information.
Access to Information
- A battery powered radio may be the only method of communication if televisions, cell phones, and computers are without power.
- A back-up battery charger for your cell phone may be helpful for shorter power outages.
- Remember to keep extra batteries for all battery powered devices.