A storm hit Omaha last week, knocking out power to around half the city. We got our power back on in 3 days, but some others may be out for up to a week. One of the things we recommend for power outages is having a source of backup power. I want to include some additional notes and recommendations based on our recent experience.
Generators
If you are running a backup generator, here are some things to keep in mind.
- Have gas on hand – If you have lawn equipment, you probably already have a gas can or two. Maybe buy an extra can, and try to keep them full. Rotating out the gas with your mower, or even your car. You may find that you can’t get to nearby gas stations in some events.
- In our case, almost every street in our neighborhood had down trees blocking the way. We weren’t able to immediately get out of our neighborhood.
- Once we helped clear trees, the closest gas stations didn’t have power either. So you may have to drive further to get gas than you expect. This brings up another good point. Try not to let your car’s gas tank go below half full.
- Extension cords – Put some thought into what you will plug into your generator (freezer, fish tanks, medical devices, phone chargers). Make sure that your generator is sized to support those items, and make sure that you have proper gauge extension cords that can reach those items. DO NOT RUN LARGE APPLIANCES ON UNDERSIZED CORDS OR CHEAP SURGE PROTECTORS. This can be a huge fire risk.
- Fans – It got really hot here in the days after the storm. With no A/C your house might feel even worse than outside. It was helpful for us to put a box fan in one of our windows to blow fresh air into the room.
- Generator Noise – Be aware of your surroundings and the noise level of your generator. In my neighborhood, many people were running generators 24 hours a day but we are all separated by yards/fences/trees/buildings. Because of this the noise level really wasn’t an issue. If you live in an apartment complex, you may run into issues with your neighbors/management if your generator is too loud. If you are concerned about noise, look into an “Inverter” generator…these are generally a bit quieter.
Trees
If you live in a heavily treed area, consider preemptively getting your trees trimmed away from power lines. Take a look at the power lines in your yard and around you. Are they growing into or close to the power lines? Trimming them early may help prevent damage during a storm. Encourage your neighbors to do the same. The less damage to your area’s power lines, the better your chances of getting power back sooner. Check with your power provider, they may offer this service for free. If you are in our area and use OPPD, you can contact them to take a look.
Equipment Maintenance
If you have tools that may be helpful in the event of a storm (like a chainsaw or generator), make sure they are properly maintained. Get your equipment tuned up or sharpened if applicable. I had used my chainsaw a few weeks earlier to help cleanup previous storm damage and my chainsaw chain was loose. I just hadn’t taken the time to clean it up yet. When this storm came, I had to go help clear the main street in our neighborhood. I had to waste time tightening the chain before I could get to work. It could have been even worse if my chain was dull, or the chainsaw wouldn’t start.
The same applies to a generator if you have one. Keep it clean and run it once in a while. Make sure it works when you need it most.
Cooking
Hopefully you have some emergency food stored in your home. But have you thought about how you will cook it with no power? Your generator may not be big enough to run a microwave or stove. How are you going to cook? Do you have an outdoor grill you can use? Do you have extra charcoal/pellets or propane for it?
Boredom
How will you pass the time if power goes out? This probably isn’t a concern for most of us “older” generation…we didn’t grow up attached to electronic devices. What about your kids? Are they attached to their phones/iPads? You might want to consider other activities your family can do with no power. Books, puzzles, board games, simple art projects? We had bought some portable DVD players for vacation a while back. That was a good way to make use of the old pile of DVDs we had sitting around.
What other ways have you found to pass the time? What other things have you encountered during power outages? Comment below and share your thoughts!
