Last February, freezing rain encased trees, roads and cars in ice and left tens of thousands without power in Ulster County. Though the Hudson Valley and Capital Region have not yet been hit quite so hard this year, it’s good to be prepared for winter weather — we do live in New York state, after all.
Here are some ways to keep you and your family ready and safe if the lights go out.
How to prepare for a power outage
The first step is to make a plan. Determine how long you could potentially stay in your home in the winter without power. If you have alternatives for heating your home, like a generator, make sure it is in working order and outside, away from windows, in order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. If you don’t have a generator or other heating method, know where open warming centers are near you. Be sure to include your pets in your plans.
Making a kit of things like batteries, non-perishable food items and flashlights can remove some of the stress of getting through a power outage. The Red Cross recommends keeping one gallon of water per person per day. It’s also important to make sure your cell phones, power banks and other devices are charged so you can keep in contact with loved ones and report outages. A battery-powered radio can also help you stay informed.
Additionally, if you have any medications or medical devices that need electricity to work or for temperature control, you should make a plan with your doctor about what to do.
Over the summer, you might also want to look at trees that hang over power lines and consider trimming or removing them, especially if they are dead. NPR reported in late 2021 that climate change is killing trees and causing more power outages. Droughts and shorter, less intense winters can promote parasites and make trees weaker and more likely to fall or lose branches, especially in the winter, when those trees are weighted down by ice and snow.
When the lights go out
If your power is out or devices are pulsing in and out, the first thing you want to do is report the outage. Depending on who your electricity provider is, they may have ways to report online and by phone or other methods. (Central Hudson has both, for example.) Reporting your outage helps your provider figure out the extent and location of the problem. It’s also good to mention, and stay 30 feet away from, downed power lines.
“The way we sort of prioritize (which outages to fix) is as we look to restore the most amount of customers that we can,” said Joe Jenkins, associate director of media relations for Central Hudson. “But within that, we also want to make sure that we are placing a special priority on what we call critical facilities: hospitals, nursing homes, police stations, fire departments, things of that nature.”
You’ll also want to unplug your devices, as power surges can damage or overload electronics, which is a fire risk on top of a financial one. Leaving on a light inside to signal when the power comes back on can protect your tech. An outside light can also signal to workers that your electricity has been restored.
If you are unable to heat your home, you might also want to leave faucets dripping to prevent the pipes from freezing. And keep your refrigerator closed as long as possible to prevent perishable food items from spoiling. According to the Red Cross, if the door remains closed, your fridge will stay cold for four hours and your freezer will stay cold between 24 and 48 hours. The Department of Homeland Security recommends throwing out “any food that has been exposed to temperatures 40 degrees or higher for two hours or more, or that has an unusual odor, color or texture.”
After that, follow your plan. If you can stay home, especially if the weather is still intense, do so. However, if it gets too cold and you’re worried about getting trapped in your house or you have other reasons for leaving, head to a warming center or stay with any friends and family who aren’t affected by the outage. Try to monitor updates and alerts; new weather advisories or power restoration times could affect your decision to stay or go. If you have access to the internet through your phone, many utility companies also have maps with estimated restoration times.
Then it’s up to the power companies to restore your electricity. Depending on how severe and local the weather is, your utility company might reach out to contractors and neighboring utilities to expand their repair team. That’s what Central Hudson does, according to Jenkins.
Once the power is back
When your power comes back on, plug your devices back in and enjoy. If you used food, water, or other items from your kit, make sure to replace them. Sweep your fridge and freezer for any spoiled or questionable food if the power was out for a while. I also love a cup of hot cocoa or tea when it’s cold outside, but warm again inside.
Worried about outages near you? Keep in the loop with the Times Union’s power outage tracker.
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