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Preparing for Power Outages El Cerrito Fire Department
Before, During and After a Power Interruption
Before
- Conserve energy.
- Store emergency supplies. See the list included in this packet.
- Have a flashlight with extra batteries by the front door, in the car, and in the workplace.
- Read the B section of the white pages in the phone book.
- Keep some spare cash and do not let gas tank get below half full, because when electricity is out, gas pumps and ATMs will not work.
- Have at least one telephone that does not require electricity.
- Have battery-operated smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Make sure any electric detectors have battery back-up.
- Know how to open the garage door manually.
- Know alternate escape routes, such as stairs instead of an elevator at the workplace. Use stairs when rolling blackouts might be imminent.
- Know the location of utility shutoffs for your home and nearby homes.
- Get to know your neighbors and identify special needs. Have a buddy system and a phone tree.
During
- Use flashlights, lanterns, light sticks, and tap lights. Emergency lighting systems that automatically come on in a power outage are available and should be considered by the elderly and disabled.
- Listen to a battery-operated AM-FM radio for news and information.
- Turn off and unplug computer and disconnect modem. Have high quality surge protector. Turn off all appliances and, if accessible, unplug appliances that might be damaged by power surges, such as the refrigerator and ?instant-on? appliances (those with remote controls). Leave one light on to know when the power is restored.
- An unopened refrigerator/freezer will keep food safe for several hours. In a prolonged outage, use perishable food first, then frozen, then dry/canned goods. In a prolonged outage, if the freezer completely defrosts, food can be stored in coolers with blue packs.
- Do not use camp stoves or barbecues indoors.
- For outage information, call PG&E, not the Police or Fire Department. Call 9-1-1 only in case of a real emergency.
- Check on neighbors, particularly those with special needs.
- Drive very carefully and defensively, and watch for pedestrians. If traffic lights are out, treat intersections as four-way stops. Pedestrians should be especially careful when crossing streets.
After
- Turn on appliances one at a time to protect them from surges and to prevent overloads to the system.
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