The cold, snow, and ice that hit Texas in early February may seem like a distant memory, but the stage is now set for the proverbial meteorological next act: The severe weather season. All of us who call Lubbock, TX home, at least for more than a year or two, know we are in tornado alley and must be prepared for things like power outages caused by severe storms.
Start With the Basics
One of the great ways to protect yourself is with a generator, and we are going to talk about that in a bit. Right now, let’s deal with the basics. Every household should have a power outage supply kit ready to go. Here are some of the items it should include:
- A first aid kit to deal with any minor injuries. It should also include prescription medicine.
- Plenty of bottled water. A good guideline is one gallon of water per person, per day.
- Flashlights and batteries should be stored in a place where you can find them easily, even when it’s dark. There are also many other choices for LED lights that use very little battery power.
- A supply of non-perishable food, including items that don’t require cooking or heating.
- A manual can opener.
- A battery-operated portable radio to monitor news & weather reports. While this may sound old school to people who use their smartphones for everything, cellular networks are much more vulnerable to disruption than radio broadcasts.
- Plenty of spare batteries for all devices.
- A battery pack that can be used to charge cell phones and other electronic devices.
Ways to Stay Safe
Just as with any other disruption in your life, you need to have a plan for what to do and not do when there is a power outage:
- Make sure it is indeed a power outage and not just a problem in your home. Check for tripped breakers or blown fuses and check other homes in the neighborhood.
- Turn off all the lights except for one or two and unplug as many appliances as possible. This will lighten the load when the power comes back on and protect your devices from voltage surges.
- Don’t open the doors to refrigerators and freezers unless necessary and make sure any food you remove is safe to eat if the power has been out for a period of time.
- Do NOT light fires or charcoal indoors to keep the house warm. If you are cold, wear as many layers of clothing as possible.
- Stay away from all downed power lines and call 911 to alert them.
Now, About That Generator
No matter how many preparations you make, a power outage lasting more than an hour or two is a huge inconvenience. That’s why Armstrong Plumbing, Air & Electric urges you to consider installing a generator at your house. There are models to fit every budget and need. It can be just large enough to power a few lights and appliances or a whole-house model that will make it seem like the power never went out.
Some Final Words
Any conversation about generators isn’t complete without talking about installations. It needs to be done by a licensed electrician to avoid potential danger to people in the home and the workers trying to restore power to your Lubbock, TX house. Armstrong Plumbing, Air, and Electric is proud to feature Kohler generators, one of the most recognized names when it comes to outdoor power equipment. Don’t go through another severe storm season without the peace-of-mind that comes from having a standby generator in your home. For more great home comfort information, be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
