“Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.”
– Benjamin Disraeli
In Kansas City, power outages aren’t just a winter issue. Spring and summer storms can knock out power just as easily as ice storms and heavy snow. Being prepared for these outages all year around is essential to keeping your day-to-day life running smoothly. Remember, “Better to have it and not need it, than need it an not have it.”
Emergency Kit Essentials
Flashlights and Batteries: Ensure each family member has their own reliable flashlight.
Battery-Powered Radio: Essential for receiving local news and emergency updates. Juuust in case.
Non-Perishable Food and Drinking Water: Store at least a three-day supply for each family member.
First Aid Kit: For any minor injuries or health needs. (You should already have this anyways!)
Special Needs Items: Don’t forget prescriptions, baby supplies, pet necessities, and an extra roll of TP!
Safety First: Using generators or grills indoors for heating can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Keep hand and feet warmers, and opt to layer up instead.
When the Forecast Calls for Inclement Weather
Charge Your Devices: Keep mobile phones and laptops fully charged when bad weather is coming. Consider purchasing backup battery charging packs if you don’t already use them. Bust out the board games to keep everyone off their devices (consider it a silver lining!).
Prevent Frozen Pipes: Insulate pipes and keep water trickling to prevent freezing. Know how to turn off your water main in case of a burst. Pro tip: Keep useable water stored for washing and flushing.
Be Alert to Hazards: Know how to turn off your gas and be vigilant for gas leaks or electrical dangers.
Prepare a Cooler: Keep a bag of ice and a cooler handy. In the event of an outage, you want to keep your fridge/freezer closed as much as possible. Load the cooler with drinks and snacks to prevent frequent opening.
What to do After an Outage
Check Your Home: Look for any damages to your electrical systems, and be aware if any smells arise. Reset your breaker box if all your systems don’t properly come back on.
Reset Your Clocks and Home Systems: It’s annoying but necessary.
Food Safety: Inspect your refrigerator if the power was out for longer than 4 hours; the freezer can go 24 hours. When in doubt, throw it out!
Review Your ICE Plan: No not that ice, but ICE – In Case of Emergency. Did you have everything you needed? Did you encounter ways to enhance your plan to better suit your family and lifestyle?
Power outages are an inconvenience, to say the least. By planning ahead and staying informed, we can ensure that these disruptions don’t turn into crises. Let’s keep our Kansas City community safe; check on your neighbors!
Side story: Growing up, our fireplace was a invaluable during ice storms. We’d put blankets over the doorways and hang out in the warm living room, cooking hot dogs and marshmallows. My childhood home was the go-to place on snow days.
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