Is Your Home Prepared for Unexpected Power Outages?

In Corpus Christi, most of us are familiar with power outages. When big storms blow in, whether in summer or winter, the power can go off, creating major discomfort as well as an unsafe situation for our families. What’s more, the uncertainty of how long the outage will last can cause great distress. Read on and learn how to be prepared when the next power outage occurs.

Your Survival Plan

Experts recommend that we be prepared at all times to survive without power for at least three days. In winter, the cause could be downed power lines from a strong storm, or even ice on the lines. In summer, thunderstorms and lightning strikes may blow out utility lines or knock down trees that fall onto the lines. Whatever the cause, you need to be ready.

Here’s a list of basic supplies you should have on hand:

• Food and water to last at least 72 hours. Make sure food is easy to prepare and non-perishable.
• Warm blankets, sleeping bags
• Warm clothing, including warm socks and hats
• Essential medicines and a first aid kit
• Battery-powered lantern and flashlights, plus plenty of batteries
• Battery-powered emergency radio to check on the situation in the aftermath of a storm
• Cell phone. The landline won’t be working if the power is off.

In addition to these supplies, you will need a means of cooking food, such as a gas, propane or charcoal grill, and plenty of charcoal or enough propane. A camp stove or outdoor fire pit might also be used for cooking. Whichever means you choose, keep all combustion-powered appliances out of the house and garage, or you risk being overwhelmed with carbon monoxide fumes.

Generators

You may decide you need a generator to power some appliances during the power outage. A backup generator should be wired into your electric system by a licensed electrician, and should never be used indoors. Neither should portable generators be brought indoors.

To learn more about surviving a power outage, contact CCAC of South Texas. Our focus is on quality service to our HVAC customers.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 361-678-2495.

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