The concern is that bad weather could disrupt essential services and stop people from getting food, medical supplies and other necessities.
“What people need during extended periods without power”
Power engineer Heather Eason shared her stock-up list with UNILAD. “As a power engineer, I focus on what people need during extended periods without power,” she said.
Start with a generator. Her first recommendation is a whole-house generator with a throw-over switch.
Get fuel before the storm. She advises buying gas now, because it can sit in your garage for a month without losing its reliability to run a small engine. Adding a stabilizer to fresh gas can extend storage to 24 months.
Keep generators well away from your home. Eason says to make sure all generators are at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents, with the exhaust directed away from the house.
Stock up on backup power and light. To keep your home going during long outages, she recommends:
- A phone power bank
- LED lanterns
- Batteries
- A portable battery power station
- Extension cords
- Propane for a gas grill
- Solar panels
The hidden danger: frozen pipes
John Blackburn, general manager at ARS Restoration Services, says an Arctic storm can also lead to frozen pipes. A damaged water pipe can leave you without water at the worst possible time.
