Today we have a guest post from Lee Flynn. He goes over some important information to be aware of if you are ever affected by a power outage. This is very relevant info these days because of all of the natural disasters hitting the United States. Power is usually one of the first things to go. Thank you for the post Lee!

Being Prepared for Power Outages

Most of us know how important it is to keep a supply of food in case of emergency, but how often do we forget about other emergency provisions that we might need? As a society, we have become reliant on power in order to cook, keep warm, keep cool, and even see in the dark. Yet power outages are a relatively common occurrence. How then, can we be prepared to deal with them?

Be Smart

First thing’s first, you have to make sure you know exactly which utilities have been affected by the power outage. Depending on the kind of outage, you may be without more than just your lights. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.org) is a really good source. advises checking with local authorities before using water, as it could be contaminated. If you are unsure, refrain from drinking unfiltered tap water to be safe. It is critical that you do not use any generators, grills or similar items indoors, as carbon monoxide poisoning can be deadly. You will also need to make sure that you dispose of any perishable food from the refrigerator after power has been off for more than two hours.

How to Prepare

There are a few essential ways in which you can prepare. One of the most important is, of course, food storage. If you are without the use of your refrigerator for more than a couple of hours, you will be without any of your cold foods. As a result, it is vital that you have a supply of necessary food items that do not need to be refrigerated. A good supply of water, or a water filter, is also important to have in cases of contamination. Portable power sources are also available and will definitely be an asset during an outage.

We never know when a power outage is going to hit us, but if we are prepared, we will not have to know.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lee Flynn is a freelance writer and expert in emergency food preparedness and food storage.