Outage Safety Checklist
Even the most reliable electrical service can go off sometimes. Print this list to keep on hand in case your power goes out.
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Check and see if your neighbors have electricity. If they do, ask an adult to check your fuses or circuit breakers to rule out problems with electricity inside your home.
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Once you're sure it's an outage, call your local electric utility and let them know. Do not call 911 unless you have a real emergency.
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Use a battery-powered radio and listen to your local radio station for updates.
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Use a flashlight when it gets dark. Avoid candles because of the fire risk.
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Turn off power strips and/or unplug computers, TVs, DVD players, as well as any other sensitive appliances. This will avoid possible damage when electricity comes back on.
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Turn off all but one of the lights that were on, so you will notice when electricity is restored.
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Turn off heat–producing appliances like electric irons and heaters to prevent fires in case no one is home when power is restored.
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Traffic lights and railroad crossings may not work. If you are in a car, remind the driver to stop, look, and listen for cross traffic.
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If you are stuck in an elevator, stay there and wait for help. Never try to climb out between floors.
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