If last week’s windstorm was a preview of the winter ahead, we’re in for a busy storm season.
Is your household prepared?
Clark Public Utilities makes great investments to prevent outages, but they’re still bound to happen from time to time. And when they do, having an outage kit on hand can make them much less difficult.
If you haven’t built one yet or if it’s been a while since you’ve updated yours, today’s the perfect day to get started.
“Power outages are a fact of life in a heavily forested region like the Pacific Northwest,” said Clark Public Utilities Safety Manager Justin Zucconi. “Most of the time our crews can restore service quickly, but big storms can impact some areas for days. When that happens, having a kit filled with all the right supplies will make a prolonged outage a much more pleasant experience.”
First off, every kit should include a plan. Everyone in the household should know how to contact one another or medically fragile friends or relatives; everyone should also know a safe place to go during an emergency, and any other important information.
Start building your kit with a large sturdy container or two. It should be large enough to hold three days’ worth of supplies for everyone in the household. It’s smart to decorate it outside with glow in the dark paint or stickers — so you can find it when the lights go out.
Make a list of everything everyone needs, then fill your container. Every kit should contain flashlights, extra batteries and a power bank for necessary electronic devices. Canned or nonperishable food, a manual can opener, a multi-tool, a small radio and a first aid kit should also be in there. Finally, consider your family’s specific needs (pet food, medications, diapers, etc.) and include those. It’s also wise to have at least one gallon of water per-person, per-day for up to three days stored near your kit.
You can go the extra mile by keeping at least a half-tank of gas in your vehicle at all times. If you own a generator, store fuel in proper fuel-specific containers, and in a shed or barn — away form heat, flame or sparks.
Typically, perishable foods should be fine when an outage is three hours or less. Just be sure to open the fridge as little as possible. If the outage runs longer than a few hours, consider putting ice or freezer packs in the fridge or transferring the food to ice-filled coolers.
Consider building a kit for pets as well. Having all their necessities in one place will make it much easier on everyone if you have to leave home. Your kit should have a sturdy leash, harness or carrier. Don’t forget food, a couple bowls and any medications they may need. Some animals can get stressed outside of the home, so plan for that too—treats and toys go a long way. Plan for their waste as well, poop bags for dogs or a litter pan for cats.
“These are just some ideas,” Zucconi said. “A quick internet search will offer many more tips and tricks—some companies even sell premade kits, which can be very convenient.”
When the power goes out at your home, let Clark Public Utilities know. Report outages to 360-992-8000 or find a link to the digital reporting tool at ClarkPublicUtilities.com/contact.
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.
