No power? No problem! Ways to stay cool, be safe and save the food in the fridge

Rachel Karas, The Daily Record
A Millersburg road crew clears fallen debris on South Washington Street on Tuesday after overnight storms knocked out power, closed roadways and shut down some businesses around Wayne, Holmes and Ashland counties.
A Millersburg road crew clears fallen debris on South Washington Street on Tuesday after overnight storms knocked out power, closed roadways and shut down some businesses around Wayne, Holmes and Ashland counties.

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Many in Ashland, Holmes and Wayne counties are still without power following Monday night's severe storm, and temperatures are on the upswing.

Without air-conditioning, it'll be a challenge to stay cool as the National Weather Service is forecasting highs in the mid-90s with high humidity levels. That translates to a heat index of 105.

A heat advisory is issued for the three counties from about 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday.

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Here's how to keep yourself and your family, cool, safe and fed.

How to beat the heat when the power is out

Kirk Lombardy, a meteorologist with the NWS in Cleveland, said high temperatures combined with high humidity can add stress to the body and make it hard to sweat.

This added stress, especially for those who are more susceptible like the elderly, infants and pets, make people more likely to overheat, which can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

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Stay hydrated, Lombardy advises, by drinking nonalcoholic and noncaffeinated beverages. Search out cool and shaded areas outdoors and avoid doing any strenuous activities.

Cooling centers and other services

For those without electricity, Lombardy recommends finding cooling centers, stores with AC or other indoor spaces like movie theaters and bowling alleys.

Katie Koglman, the chief executive officer of the United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties, said they are working alongside the Wayne County Emergency Management Agency to help provide spaces to get away from the heat and get food.

There are a number of places open in Wayne and Holmes counties throughout the day Wednesday:

  • Wooster Branch of the Wayne County Public Library will have Conference Room C open from noon to 6:15 p.m. People are also encouraged to use any available seating throughout the library.

  • Trinity United Church of Christ on East North Street will have the Fellowship Hall open.

  • Salvation Army in Wooster will serve lunch between noon and 12:45 p.m. and will have the Living Room open for the homeless from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

  • Seventh Day Adventist Church on North Bever Street will have the soup kitchen open from 3 to 5 p.m.

  • OASIS at OneEighty, 104 Spink St., will be open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. for those looking to get out of the heat or have no power.

  • Grace Church on 5850 County Road, just north of Berlin, Ohio, will be open from 1 to 4 p.m.

  • Holmes County Commissioners Office, at 2 Court St. in downtown Millersburg,  will be open from 1 to 4 p.m.

  • Ripley Church of Christ, located across from Ripley Township Cemetery in Big Prairie, will be open from 1 to 4 p.m.

Koglman said this list could change and expand as the situation changes and updates will be posted on the United Way Facebook page or call the United Way’s hotline at 330-263-6363 for help.

And as always in times like this, check on your elderly neighbors and others who might need assistance.

Here's what to do about the food in your refrigerator and freezer

Melinda Hill, a family and consumer sciences educator at the OSU Extension Office in Wayne County, said keeping the doors closed on refrigerators and freezers is the best way to keep them cold when there is no power.

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If a freezer is on the fuller side, Hill said, it is likely to hold its freezing temperatures anywhere from 24 up to 48 hours. Refrigerators don't tend to last as long, maybe 24 hours if left unopened Hill said, but that time decreases when the surrounding air gets warmer.

"Because we don't have power, our room temperature is increasing and so the warmer it gets the less amount of time I'm going to have with my refrigerator or my freezer to keep the food cold," Hill said.

For items people may need to access on a more regular basis from the refrigerator, Hill recommends putting those items along with ice packs or bags of ice in coolers to help limit the number of times the doors are opened.

Hill said it is good to check the temperatures of the fridge and freezer when the power comes back on to help determine how much of the food is still good.

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For any refrigerated items, if they are above 40 degrees for more than two hours they are considered unsafe, Hill said. Overall, if anyone is questioning whether food is good, Hill said it's probably best to throw it out.

"If there is any part that you look at and go 'Oh, this color doesn't look good,' or 'Oh, this doesn't smell good,' then please dispose of it," Hill said. "It's not worth your health to become ill because of the foods."

Reach Rachel Karas at rkaras@gannett.com   

On Twitter: @RachelKaras3 

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Power outage advice for those in Wayne, Ashland and Holmes counties

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