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Power outages are common in America, with one in four households experiencing one each year. In 2022, US electricity customers experienced, on average, 5.5 hours of power interruptions. Whatever the cause, there are ways you can prepare your home to help reduce the disruption from outages. 

What Causes Power Outages?

Power outages are commonly attributed to major events, such as climate disasters. In 2022, the United States experienced 18 weather-related disasters that resulted in damages exceeding $1 billion per event. Dayton has historically been affected by severe weather, and one of the most extreme wind events was the EF4 tornado, which occurred in 2019.

While storms are a common cause of power outages, other circumstances can also cause them. Accidental damage due to construction work, vehicles, or human error can also result in a loss of power. Grid failures, also known as power cuts, can also cause power loss and can be caused by overloading or equipment issues.

What to Do During a Power Outage

It’s crucial to stay calm, as this will help you assess the situation with a level head and prepare for your next steps.

Check if the outage is isolated to your home by calling a neighbor or someone local to see if they are experiencing the same problem. This can help isolate the cause of the issue and, from there, establish what to do during the power outage.

On your list of who to call, include your electricity provider. You should also report the outage to the Public Utilities Commission (PUCO). 

Emergency Preparedness for Power Outages

Preparation is key when dealing with a power outage, so create a power outage kit in advance so it is ready for when you really need it. Your kit should include flashlights, fresh batteries, personal hygiene items, and any medicine or prescriptions. Include a first aid kit, too.

In addition to practical items, keep a stock of non-perishable food and drinking water, as you may be without power for several hours and cannot rely on refrigerated food during that time.

Make sure everyone in your household knows the drill if there is no power. Do you have a backup solution in place? Do you have family nearby? Empower everyone with the knowledge and skills to spring into action; you can even assign roles and tasks to each family member.

You must also maintain a list of emergency contacts and ensure they’re up to date. A manual copy of emergency contacts can be a lifeline if you lose access to chargers, the internet, and landlines.

Staying Warm and Comfortable Without Power

Power outages can happen at any time, so prepare for every eventuality. In winter, an outage can leave you without heat, whereas in the summer, it could cause your home to become unlivable in a heatwave.

Home insulation can help keep you warm when the heat goes off, but there are other tips for insulating and warming your home. Keep clothing and blankets accessible in case of outages, including hand warmers, hats, and scarves. Keep your family all in one space and gather in the warmest part of the home. Stuff towels under the doors to keep drafts out and heat in.

Safe heating alternatives include wood-burning stoves and biofuel cans. Ensure any heat source you use is approved for indoor use, and never leave it unattended to keep your family safe.

To cool your home in case of a power outage in the summer, keep windows closed during the hottest part of the day and open when it’s cooler at night. Keep battery-operated fans in your power outage kit, and drink plenty of fluids. Closing the curtains or blinds can keep your home cool, and hanging a damp sheet in front of windows can create a cool breeze.

Food and Health Safety During a Power Outage

Losing electrical power removes your options for safe food storage. Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed to keep food cold for as long as possible. Instances of downed power lines can take several hours to fix and get the grid back up and running, so ration your resources.

When the power goes out, it’s safer to rely on pantry foods that can be stored at room temperature or have a long shelf life. Keeping your refrigerator door closed will keep food safe for up to four hours, but in the event of an extended outage, you should throw away perishable foods after four hours without power. 

Securing Medication and Equipment When the Power Goes Out

Proper medication storage is crucial in the event of downed power. Some prescriptions, like insulin, may need to be refrigerated, and temperature-sensitive drugs lose potency if not refrigerated. To prepare for this scenario, we recommend keeping ice packs in your freezer so you can use them in a dedicated cool bag for your medication to keep it cool.

Familiarize yourself with your medical equipment, including its operating instructions and backup power options. Keep all medical equipment and devices on hand, and extra batteries available should you need them. Medical devices like respirators, ventilators, electric wheelchairs and scooters, oxygen, or home dialysis require electricity, so backup power is crucial for this kind of sensitive equipment.

Safe Use of Backup Power Sources

Having a backup generator can give you peace of mind until your power is restored. When the power goes out, you have no idea how long it will last, so backup power solutions can reduce the disruption to your lives.

Standby Generators vs. Portable Units

Ensure you are familiar with your home generator so you’re not scrambling for instruction manuals when you need to get electrical appliances running. Home generator safety starts with knowing your system and feeling confident in how to use it should you need to.

A portable generator doesn’t require installation, as it is started manually by a pull cord when the power goes out. It runs on fuel and can power selected items during an outage via an extension cord plugged directly into it. However, it has limited capacity and cannot power major appliances and air conditioning units.

Standby generators don’t require a manual start as they are designed to automatically kick in in the event of downed power. This means a standby generator is installed directly into your home’s wiring, and while it is also powered by fuel, it does not require manual refueling like a portable generator. During installation, you select the items or appliances you want to be powered by the backup, such as lights and a refrigerator, as well as high-wattage appliances such as air conditioning and an electric stove. Whole-house generators can also keep your security system running.

Carbon Monoxide Risks and Ventilation

You must never use a portable generator indoors or in garages, as they produce carbon monoxide. To avoid the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, use them outdoors and at least 20 feet away from your home. 

Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas, which makes it especially dangerous. Install carbon monoxide detectors to keep your family safe, especially if using a portable power solution.

Lighting Solutions During Power Outages

Since outages can happen at any time of day or night, you may be left in the dark. Solar lights are a great alternative as they don’t rely on electricity, but if your home is not already equipped with solar lighting, that doesn’t help in an emergency.

Battery-operated lanterns and flashlights are the best emergency lighting solutions. Keep brand-new batteries in dedicated flashlights so they’ll be available should you need them.

The risk of home fires increases after a natural disaster, especially if emergency services like fire trucks may have trouble getting to your home. For this reason, the US Department of Health and Human Services advises against using candles as a light source if possible.

Protecting Your Home from Power Surges

When power is restored after an outage, a surge can occur as the system tries to quickly re-establish the flow of electricity. This sudden increase can damage and even destroy appliances and electronics like televisions and computers. They can even cause electrical fires.

Surge protectors can help protect your electrical system from power surges. Options include a whole-home surge protector or surge-protected power strips for select appliances.

Other precautions you can take to prevent power surge damage include unplugging appliances during an outage to avoid overloading the system once the power is restored. Gradually plug them back in in phases to avoid overwhelming the system. You should also check for any damage that may have been caused by the outage, or once power is restored.

When to Call a Professional

If you suspect electrical damage, you must bring in a certified electrician to ensure the safety of your electrical appliances. If your home faces power restoration issues after an outage, the A-Abel team can help troubleshoot and rapidly fix the problem.

Our emergency repair team in Dayton performs a thorough diagnostic process and carries an extensive parts inventory to handle common emergency repairs immediately. We maintain additional on-call technicians during peak storm season to ensure rapid response times, even on the busiest days.

Hiring a professional before power outages is the best way to protect your home. A-Abel electricians can help with backup generator installation, whole-house surge protection, and electrical system maintenance and repair. Futureproof your system now so you can be assured your home is protected in case of future power outages.

Final Power Outage Safety Tips

Power outage safety is all about preparation. Don’t wait until it’s too late; get ahead to keep your family and your home safe. Whether it’s due to downed power lines, hot weather, fallen trees, or any other cause, we can’t predict the future, so be ready just in case.

Being proactive can minimize disruption, reduce panic, and ensure your safety and comfort in an emergency.

Contact A-Abel today for home electrical safety inspections, generator installations, or emergency help after a power outage.