Be Prepared for a Power Outage with Light Sources
One of the first ways that you’ll know that the power is out is the sudden loss of light in the home. Finding a light source so that you can see and locate other items you need is a top priority. Keep several flashlights, headlamps, and battery-powered lanterns in an easy-to-access area in case you need to find them in the dark. Make sure that they always have fresh batteries and keep plenty of spares close by.
Battery Backups
Keep a backstock of all types of batteries. Different types of flashlights, radios, and even can-openers require a variety of different-sized batteries, so it’s good to have a stash of each kind. Fill up a shoebox with plenty of batteries you’ll need for your devices, including lithium batteries.
Invest in a power bank that can charge your phone in case you have no power. Your cell phone is a line of communication to the outside world that you’ll need in order to get updates and let your family and friends know that you are safe. Phone charger power banks can help charge your phone for days.
Be Prepared for a Power Outage with Food and Water
When the power goes out, all of your cold food might get spoiled with the refrigerator offline. Don’t open the fridge and the freezer unless necessary so the cold air stays in the unit for longer. Keep plenty of non-perishable food on hand in case everything in your fridge goes bad.
Canned food, nuts, and pasta have a long shelf life. Keep some foods that can be eaten at room temperature in case you don’t have a way to heat them up. A power outage may also affect your water supply, so store several gallons of drinking water in your reserves.
Buy a Food Thermometer
One way to know if the food in your fridge and freezer is still safe to eat while the power is out is to check the temperature. Meats need to stay below a certain temperature or they start to grow bacteria, so use a food thermometer to check.
Alternative Ways of Cooking
If your stove and oven are run by electricity, you won’t be able to use them in a power outage. Fortunately, you can still cook outdoors with a propane or charcoal grill. You can even use a small camping stove to heat up food if you don’t have a grill. Keep one stored with your emergency supplies.
Emergency Weather Radio
Often, power outages are the result of a storm. Invest in a hand crank or solar-powered emergency weather radio to stay on top of weather updates.
Seahorse Home Inspections provides home inspections to buyers in St. Lucie County and the surrounding areas. Contact us to schedule an appointment.