How to Prepare Your Home for an Electrical Emergency

An electrical emergency is never a fun experience. Utilize these tips to ensure you are as prepared as you can be for an unexpected situation.

2022 was another big year for residential real estate and saw the purchase of around 5 million homes. Of course, a lot of those homes went to first-time homebuyers.

While owning your first home is exciting, it also comes with heaps of new responsibilities. For example, you're suddenly responsible for things like property taxes. It's also on you to handle the preparation for everything from a minor plumbing problem to an electrical emergency.



If you're uncertain about what you should do to prepare your home for an electrical emergency, keep reading. We'll cover the essentials you need in place to make the situation less disastrous.

Put Together an Emergency Kit

Many homeowners don't fully grasp just how much they depend on electricity for even basic survival tasks. That makes an emergency kit one of the most essential elements in preparing for a power outage of any kind. A good emergency kit will contain many useful items, such as:

• Flashlights
• Batteries of several sizes
• Battery-powered radios
• First aid kit
• Basic tools
• Cash

You should also consider options for sanitizing and basic personal hygiene, such as hand sanitizer and baby wipes.

Of course, an emergency kit is only helpful if everyone can find it. Put a big, obvious label on it. Then, make sure everyone in the house knows where to find it.

Non-Perishable Foods

One of the things that electricity makes easy is refrigeration. During a blackout, though, that refrigeration disappears immediately.

Granted, a fridge will stay cool for a while if you keep it closed, but it won't last for days. Freezers do a little better, but you're still on a clock.

That makes non-perishable foods your friend in an emergency. Some good options include:

• Nuts and nut butters
• Powdered milk
• Canned meats
• Canned fruits and veggies
• Instant coffee
• Cereal and crackers

These kinds of foods generally enjoy a long shelf-life, require minimal preparation, and can even work together. For example, you can mix up powdered milk to put on cereal.

Pro tip: Get disposable utensils, plates, and bowls. That way you don't need to use water to clean dishes.

Water

Water is one of the most crucial things you need on hand during a power outage and just about any kind of natural disaster. While municipal water may continue running during a blackout, you can't always trust that water will remain safe. During a flood, for example, contaminated flood water can get into the local water supply.

As a basic rule of thumb, you should have around one gallon of water per person per day. Ideally, you want at least a three-day supply for each person in the house. Most power outages don't last much longer than that, but you can always stock up on some extra water.

Bear in mind that that's just for personal use and survival. You'll want additional water on hand for basic cooking and cleaning.

Buying bottled water is likely the easiest solution for most people. You can also use empty soda bottles or plastic milk jugs. Just make sure that you sanitize the soda bottle or milk jugs first.

Consider a Generator

Given that most homes are painfully reliant on electricity, a generator is worth considering. While a portable generator can work okay for a short power outage, you really want a standby generator if you're planning around extended power outages. Extended outages are more common in places with natural disasters like hurricanes and tornados.

A standby generator typically uses either natural gas or propane as its fuel source. Many homeowners prefer natural gas because they already have a natural gas supply from their local town or city. Even during many natural disasters, the natural gas supply remains operational.

With that said, some homeowners prefer propane because the fuel supply is right there on the property. As long as the propane tank stays put, you can keep the lights on regardless of what happens with the natural gas supply.

If you want a standby generator, you should consult with a residential electrician about installation.

Cold Weather Prep

Power outages can happen at any time of the year. So, you must give at least some thought to weathering a blackout during the winter.

Remember, most furnaces use electricity to ignite the burners and distribute heat through your home. Once the power goes off, so does the heat.

Invest in a few higher-quality sleeping bags rated for cold weather use. You and your family can use them as sleeping bags or as blankets, depending on your needs.

You can also get a few thermal emergency blankets. These are the reflective, metallic emergency blankets. These blankets help trap and reflect body heat, which can make them literal lifesavers if the power goes out during the cold weather.

Gas Up

You won't always know that a big weather event is about to knock out the power where you live. If you do get some advance notice of a major storm or weather event, plan ahead.

Gas stations depend on electricity just like your home does. When their power goes out, so do the gas pumps. Make a point of filling up your vehicle's gas tank before the storm.

If nothing else, a car with a full gas tank can offer you a way to recharge phones. It can also offer a little temporary heat if you face a blackout during cold weather.

Preparing Your Home for an Electrical Emergency

Prepping your home for an electrical emergency is a multi-part operation. You need preparation on several fronts.

You need non-perishable foods and safe drinking water on hand. You'll want an emergency kit with batteries, flashlights, and a radio.

You'll also need some basic cold-weather gear on hand, such as sleeping bags and emergency thermal blankets. Power outages can happen in the winter just as easily as during warmer weather.

You may also want a standby generator to provide some electricity.

Buell Electric, Inc. offers residential electrical services in the Dunedin, FL area. For more information, contact Buell Electric today.