Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness Health & Safety Concerns - Power Outages

Health and Safety Concerns

Power Outages

Sudden power outages can be frustrating and troublesome, especially when they are prolonged. There are many causes for power outages: wind, ice and snow, lightning, construction damage to underground lines, traffic accidents affecting power poles, equipment failure, etc.

Major storms and other natural disasters can sometimes cause major outages that can affect hundreds of thousands of customers over an extended period of time.

The best way to get information on power restoration efforts is by battery-operated radios and televisions. Informational releases are sent to the news media regarding restoration progress at least three times a day during major power outages.

Customers with Medical Needs/Special Needs

Electric companies take certain factors into consideration when restoring power during an outage. In some cases, electric companies can give preference to individuals who rely on life support devices such as respirators, ventilators or other medical equipment. It is important to note that there is no guarantee that customers with medical needs will receive power immediately. They should always have a backup plan in place, just in case.

Important Steps to Ensure Power is Restored Quickly

Register with the electric company. Utilities offer a program that alerts them about customers with critical needs. By law, all companies are required to maintain and update their list of critical customers annually. Individuals need to send in a letter or fill out an application from their utility company stating that they are on life support. The individual’s doctor must also verify the need for immediate power.

Have an emergency backup plan. In preparation for a power outage, customers with a medical need for electricity should have a contact list of family or friends, an emergency supply of oxygen, a battery-operated radio, flashlight, a land line or cell phone, and a place to go until power is restored.

Consider using a registered backup generator. A generator will provide electricity during an outage. Always rely on a professional electrician to set it up. Properly installing a generator will protect it from damage and prevent a backflow of electrical current into the utility lines that may injure service professionals. Never use a generator inside the home or in an attached garage, due to carbon monoxide build up. Customers should call their electric company to inform them that they have a generator.

Power Outage Checklist

 Check all circuit breakers or fuses to help determine whether your service outage might be the result of a household problem.
 If you have standing water near electrical wiring or appliances, call an electrician. Do not enter the flooded area. There is a risk of electrical shock.
 Inspect the area outside your home near the electric meter. If the meter or any of the piping and wires on the wall of your home or office are gone or look damaged, call an electrician.
 If you have an outage, turn off all lights and appliances, including heating or air conditioning systems, to prevent circuit overload situations as power is restored. Be extra cautious in making sure nothing is left cooking on electric kitchen ranges.
 One light can be left on, so you will know when power is restored.

Outage Safety Checklist

 Don’t operate lanterns, heaters or fuel-fired cook stoves without adequate ventilation.
 Always refuel appliances outside, away from flames or sparks. Wipe up fuel spills immediately.
 Do not burn charcoal indoors because it releases carbon monoxide.
 Do not allow children to carry candles or oil lamps in the house. A fall could be disastrous.

Outage Tips

Heat
During a winter outage, your house will stay warm for several hours. Your home will stay warmer if it is well insulated, has storm windows and windows are sealed.

Appliances
If you have an outage, turn off all lights and appliances, including heating or air conditioning systems, to prevent circuit overload situations as power is restored.

Water
If there is sufficient warning before the storm, fill your bathtub or other containers with water in case your electric water pump or local water system is affected by a power failure. The water can be used for drinking, cooking and washing until service is restored. Toilets can be flushed by pouring a bucket of water into the bowl.

Food
If you have advance warning of a storm, turn the controls on your refrigerator to the coldest setting. Food will stay frozen between 36 and 48 hours in a fully loaded freezer, if you keep the door closed. If the freezer is half full, the food generally will keep for 24 hours. A freezer full of meat generally stays frozen longer than a freezer full of baked goods. During winter months, food can also be stored in cold areas of the house or in an unheated garage.

Prepare an Emergency Kit for Power Outages

• Flashlights and new batteries
• Battery-powered radios or televisions
• Candles and matches or lighters
• Drinking/cooking water
• Portable heater (oil or gas)
• Camping equipment such as sleeping bags, camp stoves, lanterns
• One or more coolers (foam, plastic or insulated)
• Bagged ice to surround food stored in coolers
• Digital, quick response meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of food for safety
• Canned goods and manual can opener
• Manufacturer’s instructions for opening power-operated (garage) doors

Common Questions and Answers

Q: What if I go to bed and the power is still not on?
A: Before you go to bed, pack your perishables into coolers, if you have not already done so, and put in as much ice as possible. Also, before you go to bed, leave a bedroom light switched on. That way, if the power comes back on, the light may wake you so you can check the condition of your food in the freezer. If your freezer food still has ice crystals on them, they are safe to be refrozen.

Q: What if the power goes out while I’m at work or out of the house, and more than a few hours have passed before I return home?
A: Try to determine how long the power has been out. Check the internal temperature of the food in the refrigerator with your quick-response thermometer. Liquids such as milk or juice are easy to check. Spot check other items like meat or leftovers. If the internal temperature of the food is about 40 degrees, it is best to throw it out. If the food in the freezer is below 40 degrees and still have ice crystals, they can be refrozen.

Q: What if the power goes out and comes back on while I am away?
A: If your freezer is fairly full and you know that the power was not out longer than 24 hours, the food should be OK. There will be loss of quality with refreezing, but the food will be safe. If the refrigerator was out for more than two to four hours, it would be best to discard the perishables.