Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions
- Gather or purchase the important materials and supplies. The list of items to buy includes; flashlight, supply of food, portable radio or television, batteries and a gallon of water or more depending on the size of the household. Also have a variety of batteries on hand because often different items take different battery sizes.
- Keep food cool during blackout. To keep food fresh during a prolonged blackout fill plastic containers with water and place in the freezer prior to the blackout. When the power goes out, place these containers in the fridge to keep the air in the fridge cold. Also remember to open the refrigerator or freezer only as needed because the more it is open the more the cold air inside escapes.
- Keep you car with at least one quarter of its gas tank full. During a blackout the pumps at gas stations do not work because they require electricity to operate.
- Be sure to have a well charged cell phone or pager on hand for communication.
- Power off or turn down the thermostat. Often another blackout can be caused if all the air conditioning systems affected by the blackout power on at once.
