Getting Prepared for Summer Storms and Outages

With summer comes storms, and with storms come the inevitable power outages.

To prepare for storm season over the coming months, Pepco released a list of the things you should know to prepare for the heavy rainfall that could come our way.

1. Assemble an emergency “storm kit.” The kit should have a battery-powered radio or television, a flashlight, a first-aid kit, a battery-powered clock, extra batteries, an insulated cooler and a list of emergency contact numbers.

2. Have non-perishable food and bottled water. Pepco recommends keeping a three-day supply of non-perishable foods and bottled water as well as a hand-operated can opener. If you want more details about what to do with food during a power outage,

3. Keep a corded phone. It may seem like a way of the past, but corded phones work during a power outage. Cordless phones require electricity to operate and won’t function in an outage. Cell phones may seem like the best option, but we all know batteries never seem to last.

4. Protect electronic equipment. A surge protector could be your best friend if there is a power surge. Be sure to plug computers and other sensitive equipment into surge protectors or unplug them all together. Pepco recommends a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) for temporary battery backup power.

5. Prevent basement flooding. Turn off power to flood-prone basement appliances if it is safe to do so. If you have an electrically operated sump pump, be sure to leave the power on.

6. Have medical supplies. Make sure to include back-up medical supplies, prescription pills and items to care for infants in case severe storms send you out of the house.

7. Have a plan for those requiring life-support. If you or someone you know uses life-support equipment that requires electricity to operate, identify a location with emergency power capabilities and make plans to go there or to a hospital during a prolonged outage.

8. Get information. Pepco recommends tuning in to local news stations or, of course, Potomac Patch, for updated emergency information.

9. Take cover. Be prepared and take cover it the storm is severe.

10. Avoid downed wire. Stay away from wires and call 877-PEPCO-62 and press “2” to report a downed wire.