Power Outages
In the immediate aftermath of a power outage, especially one caused by severe or inclement weather, the Red Cross emphasizes that the safest place you can be is in your home.
Important tips for staying safe
- Keep the refrigerator and freezer closed; an unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for at least a few hours.
- Know what food is safe to eat. Health and safety experts recommend throwing out these foods if they have not been refrigerated for four or more hours: meat/poultry/seafood; dairy products; cooked pasta; eggs and egg substitutes; casseroles/soups/stews; mayo and tartar sauce.
- If the power goes off while you are using appliances, turn them off immediately; by doing this, you reduce the risk of overloading their circuitry when the power comes back on.
- Keep batteries and flashlights in a central, easily accessible location known to everyone. Only use a flashlight for emergency lighting. Never use candles! They are a fire hazard.
- Do not run a generator inside a home or garage. If you use a generator, connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator. Do not connect a generator to a home's electrical system.
- Never burn charcoal for heating or cooking indoors. Never use your oven as a source of heat. If the power may be out for a prolonged period, plan to go to another location (relative, friend, or shelter) that has heat to keep warm.
- Use the phone for emergencies only. Listening to a portable radio can provide the latest information. Do not call 9-1-1 for information, only call to report a life-threatening emergency.
- When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe -- even at a trickle -- helps prevent pipes from freezing because the temperature of the water running through it is above freezing.
For more information
Check with your utility company for information on outages in your area. If your provider is Ameren Illinois, please visit http://www.ameren.com/Outage/ADC_IllinoisOutageInformation.asp for more detailed information.