Simpson
There are quite a few things out there that most homeowners are not prepared for, including floods and house fires. It should come as no surprise, though, as many such things cannot really be predicted. For instance, if you live in an area where heavy rains are fairly uncommon, a sudden flood is bound to catch you by surprise.
However, there is one thing that every homeowner out there should be prepared for, no matter where they live, and that is a sudden power outage. Would you like to know how to go about it? If your answer is yes, this article is definitely for you!
Here, you will find a list of tips that will help you prepare your house for a power outage, including purchasing a reliable backup generator, stocking up on water, stockpiling non-perishable foods, and preparing for lower temperatures. Check it out!
Equip Yourself With a Backup Generator
First things first, you need to purchase a backup generator. It will become the primary source of power for your entire household during a power outage. Ideally, you should pick one that is both reliable and durable. In order to do that, check out the reviews of a few different generators before you make a purchase. For instance, if you are looking for a portable generator, you can check here.
Such generators cost around three thousand dollars on average. If you do not want to end up buying a generator that is not worth the money, you should take your time and evaluate your options.
Once you have bought a generator, read the owner’s manual before turning it on, as you will need to learn how to use it properly. Other than that, you will need to have it serviced by a professional once a year to ensure that it will work the way it should be whenever you need it.
Furthermore, you will need to run an electrical system extension from your main switchboard to the generator to power up your whole house. If you do not feel like doing it yourself, you might want to hire a licensed electrician to take care of it for you.
Stock Up on Water
If you want to be prepared for a power outage, you should stockpile bottled water. There is no guarantee that your local authorities will be able to provide you with bottled water in a timely manner, and you will definitely need it for drinking, cooking, and washing.
If you live in an area where heavy rains are pretty standard, the most practical thing to do is purchase water storage tanks. That way, if a power outage occurs, you will have a backup supply of clean drinking water.
Stock Up on Non-perishable Foods
Most power outages occur without warning, meaning that you might end up unable to cook food for a few days. In such a situation, it would be great if you stocked up on non-perishable foods that are easy to store and require no preparation, such as canned beans, canned fish and poultry, grains, canned vegetables and fruit, and jerky. They will come in handy in the event of an extended power outage!
Prepare for Lower Temperatures
If a power outage occurs while it is cold outside, the inside of your house might get surprisingly cold. Because of that, you should equip yourself with thick blankets, as well as emergency thermal blankets. That way, you will be able to stay warm and toasty despite the low temperatures!
Buy Flashlights and Long-Lasting Batteries
Do you have a few flashlights and long-lasting batteries in your house? If not, you definitely should! In case of a power outage, they will enable you to walk around freely and get stuff done during the night.
You should pick the flashlights with long-lasting batteries and several brightness modes, such as high, medium, and low. That way, if you need only a little bit of light, you will avoid wasting your batteries!
Purchase a High-Quality Emergency Radio
In case of a power outage, you might lose access to the internet. It would be great if you had a high-quality battery-powered emergency radio at hand in such a situation. That way, you will be able to receive important updates from the authorities.
Ideally, you should buy an emergency radio manufactured by a trusted company that has been in the industry for a while. On top of that, it should be durable and come with multiple charging options.
In Conclusion
To sum up, preparing your house for a power outage is not rocket science, but it does require a bit of work. However, it is definitely worth the hassle, as it will make you feel safe and secure knowing that you are fully prepared!
Remember that you should stock up on water, as well as buy a few essentials, such as an emergency radio and backup generator. Additionally, you might want to store away some non-perishable food, including canned beans and jerky. If you do all of these things, you will have a much easier time dealing with the effects of the next power outage in your area.
