Preparing for Power Outages

How to Prepare for a Power Outage from the American Red Cross:

A power outage occurs when the electrical power goes out. Planned or unexpected, it can last for days or longer, disrupting communications, water, transportation, stores, banks and other services. This may impact needs such as lighting, heating, cooling, communication, food and medicine refrigeration, cooking and medical equipment. Plan now to have what you need and to know how to stay safe.

Create a support network –

• Identify people who can help you stay at home or evacuate during an extended power outage.
• Keep a paper copy of your contact list.

Stay connected and alert –

• Sign up for alert systems and apps for text alerts.
• Have communication devices that work without home power, including a crank or battery radio, a non-cordless home phone, chargers/batteries for your cell phones and your computers.

Stock food and water –

• Store non-perishable food and water supplies for at least two weeks.
• Plan to use coolers and ice to extend food refrigeration and keep a thermometer in the fridge, freezer or cooler to monitor the food temperature.

Know and plan for your personal and medical electrical needs –

• Take an inventory of your electrical needs.
• Consider both back up and non-power alternatives for lighting, communication, medical devices and refrigerated medicine, cooking, garage doors, locks and elevators.
• Discuss a plan with your primary care or medical device providers for your medical needs.

Prepare a pet emergency kit for your companion animals.

Plan for heating or cooling your home –

• Use methods such as sealing around windows to insulate your home. If the weather is very hot or very cold, plan to go to a location with air conditioning or with heat.
• Never use a generator, outdoor stoves or heaters indoors.

Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms –

• Install smoke alarms with battery backup on every floor, inside and outside sleeping areas.
• Test monthly.
• Make sure that you have one carbon monoxide detector on each level of your home.

Plan for surge protection –

• Make sure that you have current surge protectors for household electronics.

Plan how to decide whether to stay or go –

• Plan how and when you will evacuate safely to maintain needs such as power-dependent medical devices.
• Keep your car gas tank at least half full.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

What to Keep at Home in an Emergency Supply Kit from the National Safety Council (NSC):

Every home should have an emergency supply kit located in an accessible storage area. It’s best if you store the items in plastic containers that are easy to grab and carry. Kits should be checked every six months, and expired items should be replaced.

Emergency kits are meant to help you survive not only during an emergency, but also during the aftermath.

Home emergency supply kits should include:

• One gallon of water per person per day for at least three days
• Three day’s worth of nonperishable protein-packed foods you can cook without electricity, such as tuna, peanut butter and granola bars, and don’t forget about food for your pets
• Can opener
• Hand-crank or battery-powered radio with extra batteries
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• First aid kit with gauze, tape, bandages, antibiotic ointment, aspirin, a blanket, nonlatex gloves, scissors, hydrocortisone, thermometer, tweezers and instant cold compress
• Tool kit with basic tools, in case you need to shut off utilities
• Hand sanitizer and garbage bags for sanitation
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape in case of broken windows or a leaky roof
• Whistle to signal for help so rescuers can locate you

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

What is Cross-Connection and why the annual testing of it is important from The Washington State Department of Health:

A cross connection is a point in a plumbing system where the potable water supply is connected to a non-potable source. Briefly, a cross connection exists whenever the drinking water system is or could be connected to any non-potable source (plumbing fixture, equipment used in any plumbing system). Pollutants or contaminants can enter the safe drinking water system through uncontrolled cross connections when backflow occurs.

Backflow is the unwanted flow of non-potable substances back into the consumer’s plumbing system and/or public water system (i.e., drinking water).

Backflow preventers are mechanical devices designed to prevent backflow through cross connections. However, for backflow preventers to protect as designed, they must meet stringent installation requirements.

Every water system has cross connections. Plumbing codes and State drinking water regulations require cross connections to be controlled by approved methods (physical air gap) or approved mechanical backflow prevention devices or assemblies.

The various types of mechanical backflow preventers include:

• Reduced Pressure Backflow Assembly (RPBA)
• Reduced Pressure Detector Assembly (RPDA)
• Double Check Valve Assembly (DCVA)
• Double Check Detector Assembly (DCDA)
• Pressure Vacuum Breaker Assembly (PVBA)
• Spill Resistant Vacuum Breaker Assembly (SVBA)
• Atmospheric Vacuum Breaker (AVB)

For a backflow preventer to provide proper protection, it must be approved for backflow protection, designed for the degree of hazard and backflow it is controlling, installed correctly, Tested Annually by a State Certified Tester, and repaired as necessary.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

There are several different types of Fire Extinguishers, below is information on the most common types from the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association):

In the hands of a trained person, portable fire extinguishers are great tools to protect people and property from fire during early stages. When using an extinguisher or selecting an extinguisher to install, it’s important to know the characteristics of different fire extinguishers.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

Part 2 of the different types of Smoke Alarms from the NFPA.

How are Smoke Alarms Powered?

There are many ways that smoke alarms can get their power.

Replaceable batteries –

Some smoke alarms will get all their power from batteries that are replaceable. They can be a 9v battery, AAA battery, AA battery, or another type of battery. These batteries should be replaced at least once a year, and the alarm tested every month.

10-year battery alarms –

Some smoke alarms come with a sealed, non-replaceable battery that can provide power to the smoke alarm for up to 10 years. This alarm does not require the batteries to be replaced, however, you should still be testing them monthly.

Hardwired with battery backup –

Some smoke alarms are provided with both primary power that is hardwired in from the home’s electrical system and a secondary battery backup. The secondary battery backup can be either a battery that needs to be replaced at least yearly, or it can be a 10-year sealed battery that does not need to be replaced.

How often do I need to replace my smoke alarms?

Smoke alarms must be replaced –

– Every 10 years based on the date of manufacture on the back label (7–10 years for combination CO/smoke alarm)
– If the alarm sounds an end-of-life signal (see back of alarm for description of signal)
– If the alarm fails a monthly test
– After a fire event

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.