Safety

• Don't operate lanterns, heaters or fuel-fired cook stoves without adequate ventilation.
  
• Do not burn charcoal indoors because it releases carbon monoxide.
  
• Always refuel outside away from flames or sparks.
  
• Don't store fuel inside your home.
  
• Wipe up fuel spills immediately.
  
• Don't allow children to carry candles or oil lamps around the house. A fall could spell disaster!
  
  

Freezer

Do not open the freezer during a power outage. Opening the door or lid shortens the time that food will stay frozen. A well-filled freezer will maintain frozen food for 24 to 72 hours, depending on room temperature and loading. (A full freezer will stay colder longer than one that is half full.) To be prepared in advance for a possible power outage, freeze water in slightly under filled plastic jugs and use them to fill empty spaces.

You may safely refreeze foods that have thawed if they still contain ice crystals or if they are still cold - about 40° F - and have been held at this temperature no longer than one or two days after thawing. Food warmed to 40° F or higher should not be refrozen.

Examine each package of food before you decide what to do with it. If the color or odor of the thawed foods is poor or questionable, get rid of the food. It may be dangerous!

Do not refreeze foods that are highly susceptible to food spoilage such as poultry, seafood, ice cream or cream sauce mixtures. You can cook some of these foods for immediate use or refreeze cooked foods as a dish like a casserole.

Refrigerator

In warm weather the refrigerator will become warm quickly despite your efforts to avoid opening the door. So, use perishable foods as soon as possible.

In winter, outdoor temperatures will provide good refrigeration. Or, freeze a bucket of water overnight and put it in the refrigerator to help keep foods cool.

Disconnect major appliances

Turn off electrical appliances which were operating at the time the power went off, including your heating system. Leave on one light so you'll know when service has been restored. Don't turn on everything at once. This will permit the power to be put back on line without being knocked off again by the automatic limiting devices that protect our system from overloads.

Turning off surface units, the oven, or any part of the range that was "on" when the power went off could eliminate a possible fire hazard if the power comes on while no one is home.

If you drain your electric water heater to prevent damage from freezing, it's an absolute necessity to turn off the appropriate circuit breaker or remove the necessary fuse to disconnect the water heater. Otherwise, you could burn out the heating elements should the power come on while the water heater is empty.

Water Supply

If an outage is prolonged, the lack of water becomes a real problem. You should try to store several gallons of drinking water for such emergencies.

Use clean glass or plastic containers. Avoid metal ones. They will oxidize and give the water an unpleasant taste. Plastic containers are preferable since they will not break.

Boil water before storing when you cannot sterilize the container. Water in tightly sealed containers will stay fresh indefinitely. And for an extra measure of safety, boil the water before use.

Electrically-powered life support equipment

If someone in your household relies on electrically-powered life support equipment, contact Firelands Electric Cooperative at the phone number shown on your electric service bill. We cannot guarantee uninterruptible service, but we need this information so that special attention can be given to restoring electric service in case of an outage. You may also want to consider temporary precautionary measures such as moving the patient to a hospital or contacting local police or fire departments for emergency equipment.

Emergency generators

The decision to invest in emergency generating equipment is a personal judgment based on one's own need for uninterrupted service.

Owning your own generator is ideal, but installing it is not a do-it-yourself project. We strongly recommend that you have a qualified electrician install an emergency generator according to the National Electrical Code and local ordinances.

If you use an emergency generator, make sure it has a manual or automatic switch that disconnects it from main power lines. This is a legal requirement. If for some reason you have not met this requirement, use the main switch on your service panel to cut power.

A generator that remains connected to main power lines can backfeed power into them, shocking unsuspecting utility workers. A direct-connected generator also may result in a short circuit that can damage the electrical system or create a fire hazard. The generator itself may be damaged or destroyed.

Automatic garage door openers

Consult the manufacturer's instructions on how to open the door during a power outage. If you don't have a manual, check with your home builder or automatic garage door service dealer in your area.