What to Do Before You Lose Power

In the recent ice storm, many Georgians lost power. Some families had no power for up to 4 days. Often experiences like this can help us be better prepared for the next time. Here are a few tips from Ready GA on how to prepare before you lose power.

• Juice up. Make sure all electronics are plugged in so they can be charged to full capacity. If it is safe to go to your vehicle, make sure the car chargers for your devices are accessible so you can utilize your car as a source of power, if needed.
• Keep a flashlight handy. Be sure to have flashlights at the ready, and look around the house now for extra batteries to power it if needed. Flashlights are the safest light source during a power outage, but if you opt to use candles, check out these safety tips to reduce your risk for a house fire.
• Locate your power company’s number and store it in your phone. If and when the power outage occurs, you will need to inform them. Do not call 911 to report a power outage.
• Plan for fun. Having a ready supply of board or card games to play with your family or friends is a great way of avoiding boredom and staying positive in the event of a power outage. There are thousands of suggestions online for activities to keep kids entertained. Check those out now and gather supplies so you’re ready to go if the lights go out.
• Do some baking. While you still have electricity, go ahead and cook a few foods that will be easy to store and eat later. Muffins, fruit breads and other treats like brownies and cookies will be especially welcome if you are without power long enough to tire of canned food items.

These are some things that my family and I did before we lost power and we were really glad we did.

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