Power outages can occur anytime of the year: winter, spring, summer or fall!

Power outages can occur anytime, anywhere and for any length of time. Just ask the people in Puerto Rico how many months their power outage lasted (and, as of this writing, power outages still exist in some portions of Puerto Rico). In the US we are blessed with a pretty solid power grid, however weather, man, sabotage, (even squirrels), etc. are all factors in contributing to a plethora of power outages. In fact, the website https://poweroutage.us has tracked over 50,000 power outages (check out their website to see the number of outages in your state). Bottom line is if you are prepared for a power outage (no matter how long they last), you and/or your family will be more comfortable, less stressed and better prepared to "ride it out".

There are many preparedness and recovery strategies for power outages. Obviously, you could secure alternate power options, such as a battery-stored backup power unit, use solar or wind power or even fuel cells, but some of these options are out of most family's budgets. However, most power outages don't last very long, so I recommend that you incorporate a simple shelter in place plan that will enable everyone to be comfortable and adaptable to the power outage. A simple preparedness plan should cover the three basic necessities of food, water and shelter. Your plan should include enough water for each person for up to 3 days. Bathing, washing dishes and clothes, and flushing the toilet every time, may not be an option during the power outage, so use your precious water carefully. As far as food goes, keep in mind that you probably can't use the oven or stove without power. So, food in the freezer may become perishable and fresh food in the fridge might not last. Consequently it's important to have a good food usage plan in place during the outage.

1, Utilize your fresh food first.

2. Plan to use your frozen food second.

3. Plan to use your pantry food last.

Another option is to prepare food using alternative sources such as a barbecue grill, or a propane cook grill or other cooking options (be sure to adhere to indoor safe cooking practices). Or, plan on creating meals that don't require the food to be heated, such as raw vegetables and fruits, nuts and berries or protein bars.

Regarding shelter, it may be necessary to prepare your family for times without air conditioning, heat, television, and other amenities. So another part of your shelter in place plan should deal with comfort and tools to "wait it out". This includes having blankets, extra clothing, and jackets for cold weather outages. It also includes having resources to amuse yourself and your family members. That includes books and magazines when electronics may not be available. One or two old fashioned board games, as well as a deck of cards may bring cheerfulness to a dire situation.

I encourage you to check out our Shelter in Place check lists. We've created a basic Shelter in Place list that every family should put in place, as well as optional, advanced check lists that addresses additional family needs (pets, grandparents, infants, small children, etc.) and optional items for pleasure and comfort.