Last Saturday to Monday (January 26th), two-thirds of Americans were hit by a winter storm, with many areas experiencing blizzards. By Sunday evening, millions of households had already lost power. If you find yourself at home facing a sudden power outage, what should you do?
The storm first struck Texas and Oklahoma on the night of January 23rd, bringing rain, sleet, and snow to the southern regions. On Sunday, it brought heavy snowfall to the eastern United States, including New York, New Jersey, and Washington DC.
The widespread winter storm brought destructive hail, causing power outages for over a million users in the mid-Atlantic and southern regions of the United States. Areas like Nashville, Mississippi, and surrounding regions may be without power for several days.
As of Sunday afternoon at 2:30 pm ET, the states with the highest number of power outages are as follows: Tennessee with 307,000 households affected, Mississippi with 123,000 households, Louisiana with 119,000 households, Texas with 68,000 households, and Kentucky and Georgia with 55,000 households each.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated that several communities near the Canadian border in New York experienced record low temperatures, with Watertown reaching minus 34 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 37 degrees Celsius) and Copenhagen hitting minus 49 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 45 degrees Celsius).
Here are some recommendations compiled by “USA Today” for those who may face power outages during winter storms.
According to the American Red Cross, emergency kits should include the following items:…
One of the most important things during a power outage is to check your food supply, as the duration of the outage will determine whether the items in your fridge or freezer need to be discarded.
If the outage is less than two hours, perishable items can still be consumed safely. If the outage exceeds four hours, the food in the fridge should be discarded and not consumed.
The Red Cross states that if the freezer is full and remains unopened, food can be stored safely for up to 48 hours. If the freezer is mostly empty, food can be stored safely for 24 hours.
Additional tips for dealing with power outages include:…
As cold air can seep in through gaps around doors, using rolled-up towels or cloths to seal the openings can prevent cold drafts from entering the house.