Assemble essential supplies, including:

• Flashlights (due to the extreme risk of fire, never use candles during a power outage)

• Batteries

• Portable radio

• At least one gallon of water

• A small supply of food

Additional Tips

• If you have space in your refrigerator or freezer, consider filling plastic containers with water, leaving about an inch of space inside each one. (Remember, water expands as it freezes, so it is important to leave room in the container for the expanded water). This chilled or frozen water will help keep food cold if the power goes out, by displacing air (which can warm up quickly) with water or ice (which keeps cold for several hours without additional refrigeration).

• If you use medication that requires refrigeration, most can be kept in a closed refrigerator for several hours without a problem. If you are unsure, check with your physician or pharmacist.

• If you use a computer, keep files and operating systems backed up regularly.

• If you use a laptop computer, consider buying extra laptop batteries and a power converter. A power converter allows most laptops (12 volts or less) to be operated from the cigarette lighter of a vehicle.

• Turn off computers, monitors, printers, copiers, scanners, and other electronic devices when they're not being used. That way, if the power goes out, this equipment will have already been shut down safely.

• Use a high quality surge protector for all of your computer equipment. If you use your computer often (e.g., for a home business), consider purchasing and installing an uninterruptable power supply (UPS). Consult with your local electronics dealer about available equipment and costs.

• If you have an electric garage door opener, find out where the manual release lever is located, and learn how to operate it. Garage doors can be heavy, so get help to lift it. If you generally use your garage as the primary means of entering your home, be sure to keep a house key with you. Don't get locked out if the garage door will not open.

• If you have telephone equipment that requires electricity to work (e.g., a cordless phone, VOIP phone, or answering machine), plan for alternate means of communication, such as a landline telephone, charged cell phone, two-way radio, or pager.

• Keep your car fuel tank at least half full. Gas stations rely on electricity to power their pumps.

• Follow energy conservation measures to keep your use of electricity as low as possible. This can help power companies avoid the need to impose rolling blackouts.