How to prepare your house for a power outage

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A power outage can be a major disruption,

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and outages that last for a long time

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may be especially challenging.

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With a little planning ahead,

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you can aim to stay as safe

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and as comfortable as possible

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until the lights come back on.

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Here are some steps to keep in mind

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before, during, and after a power outage.

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Before: Stay on top of weather forecasts.

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Put together a small emergency kit.

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Your kit should include water, nonperishable food,

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any necessary medications and first aid supplies,

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flashlights or lanterns,

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a battery powered radio,

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and spare batteries.

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Store your kit in a designated emergency location

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that is easy to remember and access.

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Charge your phone and an extra power bank,

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if you have one.

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For colder months and longer outages,

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add some blankets and spare clothing to your kit.

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If you have time,

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you can also add games or other activities to do

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while you wait for power to be restored.

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During: To help protect yourself and your home,

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use battery-powered lights instead of candles

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to prevent fires.

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If you have a generator, run it outdoors

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with proper ventilation.

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Unplug appliances to avoid damage from surges

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that may occur when the power comes back on.

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Keep one light on in a central location

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so you know when power is restored.

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After: Dispose of any food that is clearly spoiled

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or even questionable.

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Reach out to your doctor or pharmacist

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to possibly replace any medications

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that had required refrigeration.

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Replenish any supplies that were used up.

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To ensure your emergency kit is ready for a future outage,

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you should consistently charge batteries

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and test your generator,

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as well as replace food or other supplies

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that may have an expiration date.

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A power outage may be a covered event.

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If you experience food spoilage

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or appliances damaged by the outage,

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check your home insurance policy

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to see if your loss could be covered.

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Need more information?

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Head to www.trustage.com to learn more.