This summer brought with it a number of violent rain storms, many of which left homeowners throughout North America without power. Power outages can mean big trouble for people who are not well-prepared for their arrival. They can leave you without adequate food and water and a reliable source of communication, and they quite literally leave you in the dark. If you don’t want to suffer the next time a storm sweeps through and shuts off the power, follow these tips to ensure you are prepared:
- Keep Flashlights and Extra Batteries Around –No power means no electricity, and without electricity your lighting fixtures are useless. Not having light in your home not only makes it difficult to find important items, but also can create a very hazardous environment. To make sure you and your family are not left in the dark when a power outage occurs, keep a supply of flashlights and extra batteries around.
- Invest in a Non-Electric Phone Charger or Car Charger – When the power goes out you also lose your ability to charge electronics. This means that cellphones could quickly run out of battery power and leave you with no way to communicate with others outside your home. There are a couple of ways you can make sure your cellphone stays alive during a power outage. First, think about investing in a chargeable phone case if you have a smartphone. These phone cases can be charged ahead of time and allow you to charge your phone by simply putting the case on. You should also have a car charger handy, as you will still be able to make use of your car’s power to charge you phone even when the power is out.
- Stock Up on Non-Perishable Items – Food that needs to be refrigerated can go bad quickly during a power outage. Depending on the conditions outside, if a severe storm caused the power to go out, you may not be able to drive down to the local grocery store for food. It is a good idea to keep a healthy supply of non-perishable items around the house to ensure that you don’t go hungry when the power goes out.
- Install a Battery Backup Sump Pump – One room that people may forget about during a severe rain storm that causes a power outage is the basement. If your basement leaks when it rains, you probably already have a basement sump pump installed to direct water out of your home. During a power outage, however, your sump pump will no longer do this and you could be looking at serious water damage and expensive basement foundation repairs. Battery backup sump pumps are great wet basement solutions because they keep working even without electricity. A battery backup sump pump continues to direct water out of your basement so you have one less thing to worry about.
Follow these tips and you’ll be well-prepared the next time a power outage strikes. Get more info here: www.aquatechwaterproofing.ca
