News

12/28/2009

Be prepared to spend up to 72 hours without electricity

In its November 2009 report on Hurricane Ike and the January ice storm, the Kentucky Public Service Commission recommended that all Kentuckians should be well versed in preparedness.

Kenergy Corp. members know weather affects electricity.

As we approach the anniversary of the January ice storm, we want to remind all member-owners to be prepared.  In fact, Kenergy recently initiated an educational program titled “The First 72 Is on You.”

Please be prepared to spend 72 hours without electricity.  If you need medical devices that run on electricity, buy a generator or make arrangements in advance for an alternative place to stay during a severe outage.

Here are some other precautions:

• Store water and nonperishable food items for emergencies. Purchase a battery-operated or hand-cranked radio and flashlight. Remember that flashlights are safer than candles.
• Keep on hand extra batteries and a first-aid kit.
• Keep on hand a seven-day supply of medicines.
• Remember, you can set your alarm on your cell phone, which doesn’t require electricity.  If you don’t own a cell phone, keep on hand a wind-up alarm for times when the electricity is out.
• Cell phones need to be charged.  You can charge a cell phone off your car battery.
• In advance, know how to release your garage door to operate it manually.
• Stash some extra cash for emergencies.
• Keep a non-cordless phone, which will work without electricity.
• Keep your car’s gas tank full.
• To help preserve food that needs refrigeration, keep on hand inexpensive Styrofoam coolers.  A digital quick-response thermometer can help you check internal temperatures of food to ensure they are cold enough to use safely.
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors shut as much as possible.  An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for four hours. A full freezer will hold its temperature for about 48 hours if the door stays closed.  Reduce that to 24 hours if the freezer is half full.
• Use refrigerated foods first. Save nonperishable items for later use.

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