This past weekend’s storms were intense. Many people have been left without power. While this blog won’t help them now, it may help all of us in the future to prepare for a power outage during the summer.
Most of the time when I think power outages, I think winter, but then again, that’s probably due to the fact that I lived in Maine during the winter ice storm in 1998, and was without power for 14 days! But many power outages happen during the warm to hot summer months.
Here are some tips that may help you prepare and live during electrical outages during the warmer months:
1. Think ahead. Make ice, lots of it. Fill up empty soda bottles with water and freeze them and leave them in your freezer. These will come in handy in both a cooler or the refrigerator, like an old time icebox.
2. Stay informed – know your electrical companies phone numbers to report outages and listen for updates. Having a battery operated radio helps too.
3. Use a cooler for essential foods. This way you can keep the refrigerator closed and keep the foods that you absolutely need to access cool and safe.
4. If you have an electric garage door opener, do you know how to disconnect it so you can leave your home? Be sure to check this out before your stuck in the dark, without a vehicle.
5. It’s always a good idea to have extra batteries, some drinking water, and a good first aid kit on hand, no matter what or when you lose power.
6. Think camping – and either get a camp stove (always use it outside) or use the grill. If you have a lot in the freezer and it’s going to be a long time without power, you may just want to invite the neighbors over and grill up as much as possible before it goes bad.
7. Stay safe – remember if it’s really hot and you don’t have a way of keeping your food cold, (coolers work well, as do neighbors or family members with power) it will spoil quickly.
Our hearts go out to the more than millions without power this week in the Mid-Atlantic area. We hope you get your power back soon and that everyone has a safe summer.
Sandi Duncan is the Managing Editor of the Farmers' Almanac. 
If you notice a hole in the upper left-hand corner of your Farmers' Almanac, don't return it to the store! That hole isn't a defect; it's a part of history. Starting with the first edition of the Farmers' Almanac in 1818, readers used to nail holes into the corners to hang it up in their homes, barns, and outhouses (to provide both reading material and toilet paper). In 1910, the Almanac's publishers began pre-drilling holes in the corners to make it even easier for readers to keep all of that invaluable information (and paper) handy.
5 comments
Wow ! Your thinking is very good , when light is disconnect we use solar batteries .
When the lights go out, I think a really neat idea would be to bring in those little solar lights from the garden. We have them lined up around the back yard and I know where to go when we need emergency lights…hey, one for every room too!
@Diane – I hope you and the many others affected by this intense storm get your power back soon. Stay safe!
I live in Lynchburg, Virginia and weve been without power since Friday night and 6 people died in this city alone. My neighbors had a tree down on their house and I was heartbroken because the last thing I want is for something to happen to them. We have the generator running the ac unit, lamps, chargers and tv. Ice is really hard to find because so many people need it but luckily we have cold water, sodas and sweet tea in the cooler. I had to throw away all of our spoiled foods in the freezer and refridgerator but the main issue is still the heat and its gonna be in the 90s to near 100 all week. Its just a big mess! but im fortunate that we have it alot better than others who lost everything
I’m really glad I found you on line so I can keep ahead of the weather conditions this year !
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