The worst of the summer heat is upon us, and this time of year often comes with power outages. Whether scheduled or unplanned, any power outage can be inconvenient, but emergency power outages can be more than a nuisance. They can often last for several hours or even days. If you don’t have a plan, you will undoubtedly be left in the dark.

  • Food starts to spoil quickly after a power outage, so keep several coolers in your home that you can use to store food when you lose power. Also be sure you have plenty of ice on hand to keep food cold. If you don’t have an icemaker, dump ice from trays into a large bowl or ice bucket so you can refill them before you run out. If power does go out, you can also run out and buy ice – along with everyone else, but you should expect long lines.
  • Keep plenty of water and canned foods in the home to supplement what cold food you can salvage. The American Red Cross says you’ll need one gallon of water per person per day. We recommend having one gallon per person on hand in case of emergency.
  • Many people love to light candles when the power goes out, but this can also be dangerous. If you live with small children or pets, candles can easily get knocked over and result in fire. Instead of candles, we recommend using flashlights and lanterns to light your home during a power outage. Keep several small flashlights stashed around the house, and one or more battery-operated lanterns on hand to light entire rooms.
  • Keep a battery-powered or crank handle radio on hand to listen for emergency bulletins. Always keep an extra stock of batteries to power flashlights, emergency radios, and other necessities as well.
  • Make sure you and all your family members know where to find emergency medical supplies, such as your first aid kit and any important medications. Keep a 7-day supply of all prescription medications in the house in case inclement weather prevents you from getting a refill during an emergency.
  • Keep a full charge on your cell phone at all times and a full tank of gas in your car. These little things may not seem important, but you don’t want to be cut off from the outside world when the power goes out.

Being prepared for small emergencies, such as power outages, can save you critical time if disaster should strike. You’re ahead of the game if you’ve thought out your strategy and are prepared for the worst. Buying renter’s insurance is one way to prepare for emergencies. Go ahead and take the next step now, and prepare your home in the case of a power outage.

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