American Red Cross Shares Tips When Power Goes Out Following Tuesday’s Storms

The American Red Cross released some tips for people following Tuesday morning’s storms.

“Obviously the potential is there,” Matt Trotter, regional communications director for the American Red Cross Kansas-Oklahoma region, said.  

For most people power outages pose a frustrating hassle. Especially when they last a few days. But preparation usually helps. 

For starters, make sure to have working flashlights. The American Red Cross said it’s best to avoid using candles.  

“You could be facing broken gas lines and you certainly don’t want to introduce an open flame to a leaking gas line,” Trotter said. 

Unplug any appliances so a power surge doesn’t damage any equipment.   

“I actually had a lightning strike one time that took out an Apple computer that I had,” Trotter said. 

It is okay to keep one light switch on to know when the power comes back on.  

Use the perishable food in the fridge first. Then, make use of the food in the freezer.  

Place any food in a cooler and put the cooler in a dry cool place if the power outage lasts a few days.  

“You’ll know it’s safe if it’s below 40 degrees Fahrenheit,” Trotter said. 

Some other tips include not driving if it isn’t necessary. Anyone using a generator should keep it dry and avoid using it in wet conditions. 

Trotter said preparation before a storm happens will make a difference in an emergency. 

The American Red Cross has some resources. They have a free app to download with all the latest emergency information and tips.