Four Ways to Prepare for a Power Outage

There's a lot of things that are taken for granted every day — health, freedom, friends and loved ones. Another thing that's taken for granted? Electricity. Imagine this — everything's just moving along, the sky turns dark and opens up with a fury. Branches start to fly and your patio umbrella joins in. The next thing you know, you're sitting in a sudden and eerie darkness. This is when having a plan would be nice, right? Read on for ways you can prepare yourself, your family and your home for the next time the lights go out.

1.) Be Resourceful

While losing power definitely means life won't be the same for the time being, it doesn't mean that your basic needs don't need to be met. In order to make sure everyone is as comfortable and safe as possible, prepare for this situation in advance. Stock up on bottled water for drinking and hygiene purposes, including extra for flushing the toilet or cooking on a gas range. If you have a formula fed baby, don't forget to account for that as well. Making sure your pantry has plenty of non-perishable foods such as peanut butter, powdered milk, canned beans and crackers should also be a priority. Take inventory of batteries, matches and emergency candles and make sure your flashlights or lanterns are in working condition. An emergency radio would be a good addition to your supplies, especially if you're unable to access the forecast or alerts otherwise. Remember that this is a case where it's always better to be safe than sorry... because you never know how long the power could stay out.

2.) Maximize Solar Energy

If you've already installed solar panels on your home, you might already enjoy the benefits that go along with it. Maybe you've been considering joining the solar family but haven't done so yet. Did you know that by adding a solar panel battery to your existing panel(s), you wouldn't be left in the dark once the power goes out? It's true — you'd be able to power key parts of your home by utilizing the excess energy already created. This is similar to what you could expect from power generated by a gas powered generator, but much more environmentally friendly.

3.) Protect Your Electronics and Wiring

Are you familiar with the sound of instant quiet when the power does go out... the type of quiet where you can hear a pin drop? That's exactly when you should make the rounds, unplugging and switching off unnecessary electrical equipment and appliances, including anything you were using during the time of the outage. This will prevent surges or sparking when the power eventually returns. Investing in surge suppressors will ideally prevent damage to your home's appliances or electrical wiring, although it's not always a guarantee. Remember to leave one light on, preferably on your front porch. This way the utility company will know when power has been restored to your residence. Once power is restored, you'll need to take it easy. Don't throw in a load of laundry right away, crank up the air conditioning or bake cookies — gradually ease back in when it comes to power use. This will allow your system to stabilize and ensure a smooth transition.

4.) Prepare for the Worst

Sometimes power outages are part of a larger problem, such as a natural disaster. And while it's pretty tough to plan and prepare for the unknown, there are a few things you can be aware of every day just so you're not caught unprepared. Simple things such as keeping your car full of gas, having cash available, having emergency go-bags packed for each family member and keeping your cell phone charged — will all go a long way when they're needed.

You'll never regret being prepared. The time spent now will be well worth it later.