When a Storm Hits and You Have a Power Outage

Many of us love summer rain, lightning and thunderstorms. It is one of the most fascinating acts of nature. An act so comforting and peaceful that many a person will just sit, relax and watch the rain as it showers down on a stormy summer day. Little ones often find it enjoyable to engage in outdoor activities during a rain storm. Though thunderstorms in the middle of the hot summer months can be a whole lot of fun for many, they can also wreak havoc by causing an unsuspecting power outage.

When An Outage Occurs What Should You Do?

When you find yourself without power in your home, there are a couple of important things you need to do.

• First and foremost, you want to check outside and see if the power is out on the street, in the neighborhood or just at your house. If you notice that a large area of the neighborhood has been impacted by the storm, then don’t delay in contacting your power company and reporting the outage. When contacting your power company, you may find that they have already been alerted to the power outage and have already begun to restore the power. They may even have information immediately available as to when the power will be restored. If, upon calling out to the power company you learn that they have not been alerted, then rest assured your call will alert them that work needs to be performed to restore power as soon as possible.
• If you determine that the power is only out at your home, then there are a couple of simple tasks you need to perform. Start by checking the circuit breaker and electrical panel in your home to see if perhaps you have tripped a breaker or even blown a fuse. This is a fairly easy task to perform, but if you are not familiar with how to resolve either one of these issues, then be sure to reach out to your local electrician.

Next, you should fill up your sinks and even the bathtub with water so, should the power be out for an extended period of time, your family will have needed water. It is also important to unplug your appliances and all those important electronic devices you own. Computers, tablets, iPads, laptops, and any other electronic systems you may have should all be unplugged because when the power is turned back on there will be a power surge that can ultimately damage your appliances and electronics. We all know how costly electronics are which is why we want to take steps necessary to ensure they are not damaged during and following a power outage.

Lastly, it is important that you do not open your refrigerator or freezer during an outage. Be aware that when you keep the doors closed you are keeping the cold air in. This allows the food in your refrigerator to stay cool for 4-5 hours and the food in the freezer to remain in good state for nearly 24 hours.

Let’s Sum It Up

We are confident that these tips should prove to be extremely helpful should you find yourself faced with no power in your home. To learn more about why a power outage occurs or what you should do during an outage, be sure to reach out to Gervais Electric, Inc. where our team of highly experienced electricians stands ready to meet your needs. Put your trust into the hands of some of the absolute best in the industry. Gervais Electric, Inc. your go to company for all your residential electrical needs and services!