Waldorf, Maryland is known for its friendly and small-town atmosphere, but it is also known for tornadoes, massive thunderstorms, and floods. The summertime is when such storms are most prevalent. When these storms hit, power outages sometimes occur. These power outages can last for only a few minutes to a couple of hours, but other times, they will last for several days. To ensure you are prepared for power outages, you must protect your home’s electrical system, use LED lanterns, have backup charging supplies, keep nonperishable food items on hand, and have a generator installed if possible.
1. Protect Your Home’s Electrical System
Sometimes power outages can cause electrical surges to hit your house’s electrical system. When your home’s electrical system receives a power surge, it cannot only damage your electronics, but it can also cause damage to the wiring in your residence. To prevent power surges from causing problems for you, it is essential that you have surge protection devices installed in your home so that the excess power can be directed away from your house and into the earth. The installation of surge protection devices will need to be done by a licensed electrician to ensure they are working properly.
2. Use LED Lanterns
LED lanterns are a wonderful source of light because they consume tiny amounts of power, and you can go months without needing to replace their batteries. Not to mention, LED lanterns will avoid the temptation of using the flashlight on your smartphone so that you can preserve its battery and continue to make phone calls. Strategically place LED lanterns throughout your house so that you will have enough light to avoid trips and falls if the power goes out.
3. Keep Backup Charging Supplies on Hand
Keeping backup charging supplies on hand is especially important if power outages last for several hours or days. Back up charging supplies will ensure that you are able to keep your smartphones and other electronic devices fully charged so that you are able to obtain help in the event of an emergency. It is critical to have several back up charging supplies available, and make sure they are fully charged and ready to use.
4. Keep Nonperishable Food Items on Hand
While a power outage that lasts a few hours will not affect your food supply, the same cannot be said for a power outage that lasts several days. Because refrigerated food items will only stay fresh for so long, it is essential that you always have a surplus of nonperishable food items on hand. Nonperishable food items include canned goods, crackers, bread, and other packaged high-protein snacks.
5. Have a Generator Installed
Having a generator installed will ensure that you are not impacted when a power outage occurs. When the power goes out, the generator will kick in and ensure your house continues to have power. If you can afford this option, it is highly recommended. To ensure that your generator works properly, a licensed electrician must install it.
If you want to make sure your home’s electrical system is prepared for when the next power outage hits, contact the Circuit Doctor. We will come out and inspect your electrical system and install surge protection devices. We will also install generators to guarantee your home remains fully operational during a power outage.
