Power Outages (December)

How to Prepare for a Power Outage:

• Keep your 72 hour kit stocked with flashlights and extra batteries (placed where you can find it in the dark); radio; foods that require no cooking; crank/car phone charger.

• Consider investing in a camping stove or grill.

• Know your utility numbers. Keep your phone books to look up numbers.

• Always keep your car’s gas tank more than half full.
  This is a good habit for any type of situation.

• Have a refrigerator thermometer to know if food is safe to consume in a power outage.

• If a strong storm is predicted, freeze water bottles to keep things cool in the 
refrigerator and freezer.

• If your heat is electric - Are you prepared to keep warm if the power outage happens in the winter?

In the event of a power outage:

• Unplug appliances/electronics and turn off all but one light.

• Add bags of ice to the refrigerator/freezer to help keep cool. Consider taping the doors.

•  Pack a cooler of essential items you eat often. Styrofoam works fine for this purpose. Keep the refrigerator and freezer door closed.

•  A full freezer will keep food frozen for 2 days (half full for one day). Food in the refrigerator will keep cold for 4 to 6 hours. Any food that is thawed above 40 degrees should be discarded.

• Disconnect garage door opener if you have one. 

For more information:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/  I really like this article written by a mother who had to prepare for hurricane Sandy and had her power knocked out by a hurricane in the previous year.
http://www.bt.cdc.gov

http://www.fivecentnickel.com

Tornado Information (November)

Tornado Information

Weekly Test - A siren goes off every Wednesday at noon in Franklin County (2 times for 20 seconds). Sirens also transmit spoken messages with a test on the 1^st Wed. of the month.

Unscheduled siren - A tornado warning has been issued; a tornado is in the area. This siren will go off for 3 minutes and then will be silent for 7 minutes. The pattern will repeat as long as the warning is in effect.

What to do in case of a tornado:

In a structure: Seek shelter in a room on the lowest floor possible away from windows and doors. Listen to weather information on the t.v. or radio/NOAA radio. Wear sturdy shoes. If possible, have your 72 hour kit nearby.

In a car: Listen to local weather information. If possible, immediately drive to seek shelter (home, business etc.). If you cannot get to a shelter, do not try to outrun a tornado.  If you can safely get to a level lower than the road, leave your car and lie flat in a ditch or depression.

For more information: 

http://www.ready.gov/tornadoes

Franklin County Siren Status

What to do when you hear the sirens

Tornado Safety