Background, Safety Tips, Preparedness

Electrical power is like breathing; you don't really think about it until it is missing. Power is just "there", meeting your every need constantly. It is only during a power failure that you realize how important power is in your everyday life. We are all dependent on electricity, so a power outage of more than a few minutes becomes very inconvenient. As the duration of a power failure stretches out, there can be costly or dangerous ramifications.

Short-term power outages occur when electricity demand exceeds the available supply; they're likely to occur more frequently in warm weather when many air conditioners are running. Energy is in short supply in California -- a "rotating blackout" (planned short-term outage) occurs when the power service has to be temporarily interrupted in a selected area to save power. A "rotating blackout" typically occurs for an hour, then the power is restored and another area is turned off. You may receive little or no prior notice of an outage. Stay tuned to local news with battery-operated radios for current information when outages occur. While loss of power is a serious inconvenience, safety should be the main priority.

Safety Tips When the Power is Out:

• Do not call 9-1-1 to ask about the power outage. Listen to local news radio stations for updates.
• Keep a list of emergency phone numbers near the phone.
• Have a cell phone or hardwire phone; cordless phones will not work without electricity.
• Only use a flashlight for emergency lighting; candles are a fire risk.
• Turn off electrical equipment you were using at the time of the power outage. This will help to prevent power surges when electricity is restored. Power surges may permanently damage electronic equipment and appliances.
• Avoid opening the refrigerator/freezer as much as possible to prevent food spoilage. Food should stay frozen for about one full day and fresh in the refrigerator for about four hours.
• Do not run a gasoline-powered generator inside a home or garage. If you use a generator, connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator. Do not connect a generator to a home's electrical system.
• Use extreme caution when driving. If traffic signals are out, treat them as a stop sign -- come to a complete stop at every intersection and look before you proceed. Let the person on your right have the right-of-way.
• Railroad crossings may not be working either, so stop, look, and listen before entering a crossing.
• If you're stuck in an elevator when the power goes out, stay put and wait for help. Never try to climb out between floors.

How Can I Prepare Before the Power Goes Out?

Assemble essential supplies, including:

• Flashlight and flashlight batteries
• Portable radio
• At least one gallon of drinking water and a small supply of food
• If you have space in your refrigerator or freezer, consider filling plastic containers with water, leaving about an inch of space inside each one. (Remember, water expands as it freezes, so it is important to leave room in the container for the expanded water.) Place the containers in the refrigerator and freezer. This chilled or frozen water will help keep food cold if the power goes out.
• If you use medication that requires refrigeration, most can be kept in a closed refrigerator for several hours without a problem. If unsure, check with your physician or pharmacist.
• If you use a computer, keep files and operating systems backed up regularly. Consider buying extra batteries and a power converter if you use a laptop computer. A power converter allows most laptops(12 volts or less) to be operated from the cigarette lighter of a vehicle. Also, turn off all computers, monitors, printers, copiers, scanners and other devices when they're not being used. That way, if the power goes out, this equipment will already have been safely shut down. Get a high quality surge protector for all of your computer equipment. If you use the computer a lot, such as for a home business, consider purchasing and installing an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Consult with your local computer equipment dealer about available equipment and costs.
• If you have an electric garage door opener, find out where the manual release lever is located and learn how to operate it. Sometimes garage doors can be heavy, so get help to lift it. If you regularly use the garage as the primary means of entering your home upon returning from work, be sure to keep a key to your house with you, in case the garage door will not open.
• If you have a telephone instrument or system at home or at work that requires electricity to work (such as a cordless phone or answering machine), plan for alternate communication, including having a standard telephone handset, cellular telephone, radio, or pager. Remember, too, that some voice mail systems and remote dial-up servers for computer networks may not operate when the power is out where these systems are located. So even if you have power, your access to remote technology may be interrupted if the power that serves those areas is disrupted. Check with remote service providers to see if they have backup power systems, and how long those systems will operate.
• Keep your car fuel tank at least half full because gas stations rely on electricity to power their pumps.
• Follow energy conservation measures to keep the use of electricity as low as possible, which can help power companies avoid imposing rolling blackouts.

After a Power Outage:

Wait a few minutes before turning on major electric appliances. This will help eliminate problems that could occur if there's a sharp increase in demand immediately after power is restored. If you think that electric power has been restored to your area, but your home is still without power, call your local energy company or Pacific Gas & Electric at 1-800-743-5000 for information.