A power outage, especially when combined with inclement weather conditions, is an easy time to panic. You may quickly find yourself wondering what to do in a power outage, as well as how to survive a power outage as painlessly as possible.

Before you do, take a deep breath, and read on for some top tips for power outages in the winter.

What to Do Before a Power Outage?

How to survive a power outage in winter? One of the first things you can do entails some planning before the outage occurs, when possible.

If you’ve checked the forecast and threatening winter weather is apparent, prepare your home the best you can ahead of the storm.

• Stock up on the essentials. Write or print a power outage kit list with all of the must-have supplies you’ll need to make it through the weather-induced inconvenience more smoothly.
  • This list should include a flashlight(s), batteries, an emergency weather radio, and a portable generator (if it is in your budget).
  • Other helpful tools to have on-hand include a food thermometer to keep tabs on your refrigerated items, as well as a supply of non-perishable goods to eat during the outage.
• What food to buy for a power outage? What to eat during a power outage is usually at the top of most people’s lists, especially if you have little ones in the home—with little patience and big appetites!
  • Speaking of non-perishable items, the following foods are great choices to buy in preparation for the potential lack of electricity:
    • Canned foods like ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables are smart picks. Make sure you have a can opener as well—the one you have plugged into the wall won’t be working when the electricity is down!
    • What to cook during a power outage? The answer is, not much! That’s why ready-to-eat snacks, fruits, veggies, and meals make the best solutions.
    • Non-perishable pasteurized milk, peanut butter, canned juices, dried fruit, granola, and cereal are great options to have when hunger strikes.
  • Another word to the wise is to make sure your phone, laptop, and any other digital devices are fully charged before the outage occurs, extending the length of time you’ll have power once you can no longer charge them.
  • Research any answers to questions you may have before losing power. If you’re wondering things like “Do they fix power outages at night?” for example, access that information to ease your fears.
  • Most companies have crews working to respond to reported outages as quickly as it is safe and humanly possible to do so, for the record. Patience goes a long way in these situations!

What to Do During a Power Outage?

• Keep close tabs on the weather. Staying informed could mean the difference between your safety and potentially dangerous conditions.
  • If conditions get too worrisome, be prepared to make a decision about when you need to leave your home and seek shelter elsewhere.
• If you have a generator, keep it outside and away from windows to maximize safety.
• Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed to preserve the cold air—and your food’s freshness—as long as possible.
• Avoid using a gas stove or oven to heat your house—this presents a great deal of risk.
• Contact friends, family, and anyone else in your inner circle to check on them and keep tabs on one another.
• Don’t fall asleep with lit candles burning.
• Disconnect electronics and appliances to prevent damaging power surges.

What to Do After a Power Outage?

• Do a food check. A good rule of thumb for assessing whether your food is still safe to eat or not is, “when in doubt, throw it out!”
  • Although no one wants to waste food, money, or money spent on food, it is not worth the risk of getting sick.
• Once the power is back up and running, you still need to exhibit a bit of patience.
  • For example, don’t rush around the house to plug appliances and electronics back in immediately—wait a few minutes. This way, you can avoid power surges.
• Take stock of your power plan.
  • Now that you’re back in action on the power front, it is a great time to consider switching utility providers.
  • Be better prepared for next time’s power outage with some extra cash in your pocket.
  • Ampra Energy, the #1 provider of 100% Green Energy in Texas, offers unbeatable rates on traditional prepaid, postpaid, and even small business energy plans.
  • Prepaid energy plans allow consumers to better budget for utility expenses by paying ahead of time before the energy is even used.
  • Need more funds to tide your account over until the beginning of the next billing cycle? No problem! Ampra Energy lets you easily add more money and quickly replenish your account balance as needed.

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