What to do in case of a power outage

As we prepare for more flooding, we want you to stay safe, dry and prepared. Power outages go hand in hand with flooding, and we want you to be prepared in case the power goes out in your area. Here are some things you should do to prepare for a power outage:

Preserve your food using coolers filled with ice rather than trying to depend on your refrigerator. A digital quick-response thermometer will also come in handy when you need to measure the temperature of your food and make sure that it is still safe to eat. An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for only about 4 hours.
Prepare an emergency kit. Inside this kit, you should keep:
- one gallon of water (per person per day)
- non-perishable food and items that are easy to prepare
- flashlight (no candles!)
- battery-powered or hand crank radio (if battery powered, make sure you store extra batteries in your kit as well)
- First Aid Kit
- medication
- multi-purpose tools
- items for personal hygiene (toothpaste, deodorant, etc.)
- personal documents
- emergency contact information
- cash
Make sure your car's gas tank is full.
Make sure you have carbon monoxide alarms installed in central locations in your home.
During a blackout, turn off and unplug electrical equipment that you're not using. Additionally, turn off any appliances that you were using when the power went out.
Once the power comes back on, do not touch any electrical lines. Throw away food that has been exposed to higher than 40 degrees for 2 hours or longer. If you are unsure, you should throw it away.