Everything you should do if you lose power in SC during Hurricane Ian
Are you concerned about a potential power outage during Tropical Storm Ian?
Unfortunately, it can be very easy for extreme weather conditions to cause a mass power outage in your home and surrounding area.
In the event that this occurs during an emergency storm situation, safety is the most important thing to attain. This includes bringing in light sources, staying dry and warm and providing food for yourself and your loved ones. If you don’t have a generator or severe weather situations are prohibiting the use of a generator for a period of time, it is important to know certain steps you can take to stay safe during a power outage. Once these things have been gained, salvaging perishable items and reporting the outage should be your next steps.
Safely maintaining a light source during a power outage
Buy a flashlight or battery-powered (LED) lantern to keep on hand in case of a power outage. Make sure there are enough flashlights for family members and enough lanterns to provide ample light. These, rather than candles, are safest and help prevent accidental fires or injuries and are more portable in case of emergency. Headlamps are also helpful when the wearer may be moving around frequently and needs to be hands-free. Candles are not recommended as they pose a serious fire hazard and have a shorter lifespan. Make sure to keep them in a known location to help better locate in the event of a power outage or attach a strip of glow-in-the-dark duct tape to your light source to help make them easier to find when things get dark
Although this may deplete precious phone batteries, using your cell phone’s flashlight also provides light in a necessary situation. Be sure to keep a portable charger on hand to keep your phone charged in case of emergencies during a power outage.
If candles or fuel-lit lamps are all you have, no worries. Be careful not to leave them unattended and be aware of your surroundings when they are lit. Make sure to use secure candle holders to avoid any accidental fires. Making sure to have a supply of lighters, plenty of matches and/or extra fuel is also necessary to prepare prior to a power outage to light any candles or lanterns.
Staying warm during a power outage
Be sure to keep extra blankets, quilts, comforters and pillows on hand in case of an emergency. Keep these in the room which your family plans to spend the most time. Keeping everyone in the same room together will help raise the temperature and provide added warmth.
Have easy access to warm clothing in case adding extra layers becomes necessary. Make sure these clothing items do not restrict mobility in case of an emergency.
Invest in a cordless space heater. Do keep an eye on it to prevent any accidental fires, but these help to quickly raise the temperature and warm up any room and the individuals inside.
Make a list prior to a power outage of nearby shelters and hotels for an emergency in case you can not stay in your home. If you have pets, make sure the location is pet friendly. For a list of pet friendly hotels in South Carolina, visit https://www.bringfido.com/lodging/state/south_carolina/.
Making food during a power outage
Limit the use of your refrigerator or freezer. Open the appliance door only when absolutely necessary. This will help retain cold air and temperatures within. Plan ahead to minimize the amount the door is open. If an outage is predicted, try going to the store and picking out your favorite non-perishable snacks and foods that don’t require cooking. In addition, keeping a generator on hand can help keep appliances running.
Keep a supply of ice packs in your freezer to use in coolers or your refrigerator or freezer in case of an outage to help preserve cooler temperatures in the appliance. If severe weather is approaching, or you suspect you may lose power, put some water bottles in the freezer. Once frozen, they will help maintain a colder temperature to help salvage any food that needs to be kept cold.
Keep coolers with ice on hand to keep refrigerated items cold if the power is expected to be out longer than 4 hours.
In the event of a power outage, a refrigerator can keep food cold for about 4 hours if it is left unopened. Whereas a full freezer can maintain its temperature for approximately 48 hours or 24 hours if it is only half full and the freezer door remains closed and unopened. Frozen food tightly grouped together helps to maintain a cold temperature, according to the FDA.
Keep ample water bottles on hand in the event you lose access to water.
How to access restroom use if you lose water and power
Water for flushing has the potential to become scarce during an outage depending on how long it lasts or how many people are using facilities at that time.
As soon as you receive notice of imminent severe weather situations or other causes that may force an impending outage, fill a bathtub and/or as many five-gallon buckets as possible to prepare for a potential outage that could last several days. Better safe than sorry is key. For those who have a well, the water storage tank can be a resource. If the water pressure is too low to fill the toilet tank, water can be drawn directly, using the tank’s spigot or a garden hose to siphon it, according to Family Handyman.
If you and your family live in a large neighborhood community, you should still have the ability to flush your toilets without having any power amid an outage. This is because municipal water generally comes from large holding tanks. Be sure to check with your neighborhood to confirm rather than assume. Water pressure and sewage that flows to treatment plants is generally unaffected during a power outage.
Additional things to remember
Fill up your car with gas prior to an expected power outage in the event of severe weather, etc. Gas stations rely on electricity to power their gas pumps and your car may be necessary to use in case of an evacuation or to charge your phone or other devices in the event of an extended outage.
Never drive over downed power lines or through dangerous areas affected by severe weather. This includes heavily flooded areas or areas with debris blocked roadways.
Invest in portable chargers for your devices. They sell water-proof options as well as wireless choices or ones with carabiner clips attached for easy transportation.
If a power outage occurs, dim the brightness on your cell phone, switch your phone to low-battery mode, turn off wifi and close all of your open apps to help maintain and save the battery life.
Use surge-protected cords and cables for any device or equipment that requires being plugged into an outlet. If you do not own a surge-protected cord and cannot purchase one, disconnect appliances, computers, devices and other plugged-in equipment if an outage occurs. This is to avoid any potential damage that could be caused in case of a possible “power surge”.
