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 IF
THE POWER GOES OUT:
- Check your
fuse or breaker box for
blown fuses or tripped circuits. If they are okay, see If
neighbors are without power.
- Call your
utility immediately. You may be asked for information,
or hear a message if the situation has already been reported
- Turn off all
electrical equipment [e g , water heater, electric furnace,
heaters, stove,washer, dryer, TV] to prevent overloading the
system when power is restored.
- Turn on a
porch light and one inside light so you and utility crews will
know when service is restored.
- Listen
to the radio [battery-powered] for updates on major electrical
outages.
- If your neighbor's
power comes back on but yours does not, call your utility company
again.
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Important Information when Reporting a Power Outage
- Name & address.
- Time of outage.
- Are lights
out, flickering or dim?
- Are the neighbors'
lights out?
- Were there
loud noises preceding the outage?
- Have any wires
fallen to the ground? Tree limbs on lines?
Crews may have
to remove limbs, replace broken insulators or fuses and close
circuit breakers. The more serious the problem, the longer it
will take to restore customer service.
EMERGENCY LIGHTING:
Flashlights: Each
person should have their own flashlight. Store extra bulbs and
batteries.
Light sticks: Self-contained
chemical lights that activate by bending. Work well as night-lights
for children.
Candles: Can
be dangerous. Set in low wide cans. Keep away from curtains and
flammable furniture and out of children's reach.
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DOWNED POWER LINES
If you see a
power line lying on the ground, don't touch it with anything
- stay back. Call your utility company immediately. Keep kids
and pets away.
NEVER touch
a downed power line. Electricity can travel through your body
causing serious injury or death. If you see a downed power line,
take these precautions:
- Expect every
line to be "live". Electricity is invisible. The line doesn't
have spark or sizzle to carry electricity.
- If a power
line is touching someone, stay away - you cannot help If you
touch the person, you could become a victim too.
- Call 911 for
emergency help!
- If a power
line falls across your vehicle, don't get out! Wait for emergency
help to arrive.
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STAYING WARM:
Outages can occur
at any time of year, but during cold weather the temperature
inside your home can drop rapidly.
Tips
for staying warm:
- Save Body
Heat -Wear a hat, even while sleeping Wear loose layers
of clothing to trap body heat Use blankets and a hot water
bottle
- Lock in
Home Heat - pick one room [on the sunny side of the
house] and close it off to keep the heat in
Watch for Hypothermia [a
drop in core body temperature] especially in infants and elderly.
Symptoms include slow, slurred speech, clumsiness, confusion
and/or persistent shivering. Call 9-1-1 if you suspect hypothermia.
Remember to check on isolated friends and neighbors.
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HOUSEHOLD TIPS:
- Your Freezer will
keep food frozen during an outage for about two days if it's
full, one day if it's less than half full. Don't open the door.
It also helps to cover the freezer with blankets.
- Protect
Your Pipes If the power is out and the weather is freezing,
keep a steady drip of cold water on an inside faucet and
wrap pipes to prevent damage.
- Automatic
Garage Door Openers won't work if the power is out. Check
to see if you have a manual override.
- Home Computers Install
a surge protector (not just a power strip) to protect your
computer from power surges.
- Charcoal
Briquettes Never use briquettes indoors. They produce
carbon monoxide which can be deadly.
- Generators Never
connect a home generator to a wall outlet. If used incorrectly,
portable or auxiliary generators used for backup power at home
can ruin your electrical system and start a fire and can also
feed electricity back into the utility system. This is very
dangerous for crews repairing lines.
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 Wayne County
Emergency Management Division
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