A power outage occurs when the power supply to a property or area is disrupted or cut off. It can be caused by a variety of things, including:
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Storms
Lightning strikes can cause power outages by damaging equipment and wiring, as well as triggering circuit breakers. Heavy rain and wind can also lead to downed trees and limbs hitting wires.
Wind
Wind can damage equipment and wiring during storms, but also cause damage on its own. When wind gusts reach 40 miles per hour (mph), they can knock down power lines and cause power outages.
Electrical surges
An electrical surge is a sudden increase in voltage that travels through the home’s electrical system. It may occur when you turn on an appliance that requires an increased amount of energy at once, like your microwave or dishwasher. Electrical surges are often caused by lightning strikes or power failures in an area, which causes your house’s electrical system to overload.
Lightning strikes
Lightning strikes onto utility poles or lines near your home can cause fires as well as electrical surges that damage wiring and equipment throughout your home’s electrical system.
When you’re preparing for a power outage, it’s important to make sure that your home is safe and secure. Here are some tips from the experts to help you prepare for a power outage at home.
Stockpile batteries and flashlights. Batteries are essential to have on hand during a power outage. Make sure you have enough to last at least three days, but ideally, you’ll want to stock up on one week’s worth of batteries. You should also have flashlights that don’t require batteries. Keep these items where you’re most likely to need them — such as in the kitchen or garage — so that they’re easy to access when the power goes out.
Charge devices before an outage occurs. If you use battery-powered devices regularly, make sure their batteries are charged before an outage occurs so that they’re ready when needed. You can also consider purchasing a generator if this is something you frequently experience during outages. Generators are good for powering larger appliances, like refrigerators and televisions, but they won’t work with everything that requires electricity — such as computers or lights — so make sure you know what type of generator will work best for your needs before purchasing one.
Check all smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are working properly and have fresh batteries installed. Replace any smoke alarms that are more than 10 years old and replace any batteries annually.
If you have an emergency kit in your car, bring it inside and make sure it is ready to use during an emergency situation.
Make sure your refrigerator is plugged into a surge protector. Even if the power goes out, this will keep your food cold until the power comes back on.
Click here for some simple ways to prepare for power outages.
