By The Ready Store

With the summer months coming quickly upon us, many of us will be camping in the great outdoors. With that camping, the probability that we will run into a wild animal increases drastically.

We put together this document to highlight some of the things you should and shouldn’t do when encountering a wild animal. Take a look and tell us what you think!

General Rules

1. Do not approach unfamiliar animals even if they look friendly.
2. Stay calm and do not scream or make loud noises if the animal approaches you
3. If the animal is demonstrating odd behavior, remember that you are a predator – act like it!
4. Animals are more likely to attack children – pick them up if you see an animal.
5. Usually animal attacks occur because people don’t make enough noise, get too close to a carcass or other food source or startle an animal with their babies.
6. Don’t hike at night.

Bears
Statistically, a bear attack is very unlikely. Bears tend to avoid humans except to steal food. A grizzly bear is more likely to attack than a black bear.

If you encounter a bear, don’t sit around to watch it. The bear is most likely doing its business and encountered you too. Continue along your business but begin to create space between you and the bear. Do not run directly away from the bear or at the bear.

If the bear follows you, separate yourself for the items of food that you have. If the bear seems uninterested in the discarded food, turn around and face the bear. Usually the bear will back down. If it doesn’t, bring your arms to your side or above your head to make yourself look larger in an effort to scare the bear.

As a last result, play dead. Cover your head and face with your hands. The bear may sniff and paw you. You may even get a few bumps or broken bones but he probably won’t eat you. Humans don’t really fall anywhere in the fish and berry diet of a bear.

Do not run away from the bear, he can run faster than you. You can also climb a tree or try to out swim the bear.

Dogs
If you come across an aggressive dog, avoidance is the best plan of action. As you back away from the dog, locate a stick or something to arm yourself with. Try and use calm, soft language that shows that you are not a threat.

If the dog lunges at you, try to stay tall and erect. Use your legs to try and kick the dog in the face or ribs. Avoid laying down or stooping.

Snakes
Snakes will usually sense vibrations in the ground as you approach. They will typically hide behind rocks, logs or thick brush. Usually they do not attack unless provoked.

Be sure to watch your path if you are turning a trail corner quickly or picking something up that has fallen in a hidden area.

Cougar & Mountain Lions
You should try and avoid mountain lions just as much as any other animal. However, it’s been reported that some mountain lions have made unprovoked attacks on humans. However, this is also very unlikely.

If you are attacked by a mountain lion, use anything and everything to fight back. Try and stay standing and protect your face, neck and head. Try and scream as much as possible for help.

Alligator/Crocodile
Usually alligators and crocodiles will avoid humans by retreating back into the water. If you happen across a nest they will usually chase you out.

If you need to run away from an alligator or crocodile, run in a zig-zag motion away from them. They run well in straight lines but not usually from side to side.

Scorpions & Other Insects
Be sure to shake out your shoes or clothing before putting them on. Insects and scorpions like to nestle into closed, dry locations like that.

Sharks
Firstly, avoid shark infested waters! If you’re in the water, be sure to keep an eye out for sharks and if you see one, get out of the water.

If you can’t get out of the water, remain calm and stay in a defensive position. Try and reduce the shark’s angles of attack by using other obstructions as protection. Sharks also don’t like bubbles from scuba divers.

If the shark attacks you, don’t play dead. Fight back as much as possible by hitting them in the gills, eyes or snout.

Velociraptors
If you come across a velociraptor and they seemed surprised to see you, don’t be fooled! This is a trick they use in their hunting techniques. Jump and weave your way out of the area as quickly as possible. According to the Jurrasic Park movies, all velociraptors are girls and they are very clever.

Be sure to use locks on doors. They have evolved to use door handles so that will not help you. Install smooth round door handles in your home if you fear an imminent velociraptor attack. Your best bet is to trick the velociraptor using mirrors or other reflective surfaces.

Last week, The Ready Store wrote a featured article in The Enterprise, a business journal, on how to prepare your business for an earthquake. Take a look:

By The Ready Store

In February 2008, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit near Wells, Nev., Fortunately, this large earthquake didn’t take any lives. Instead, the quake damaged half of the non-residential buildings in the town.

The disaster cost the city over $9 million dollars and steered businesses off track for months after the event. …

Your Responsibility to Prepare Your Business
If you are preparing your family for an emergency, why should your business be any different? …

When you think about it, an earthquake might not strike while you and your family are at home. Instead, it’s probable that you’ll be at your desk (or perhaps on the golf course if you’re lucky)! You have a responsibility to prepare your business and your employees to know what to do in case of an emergency.

There are a few things that you can do to prepare before a quake, train your employees on what do during a quake, and keep your business financially stable after an earthquake.

Prepare Your Location
The first thing you’ll want to do is assess how ready your business location is for an earthquake. This will help you develop a plan for your business.

Identify potential hazards. Does your office have a lot of pictures hanging on the wall? Is there more than one escape route out of the building? You should assess what concerns your location presents while you create a plan.

Also consider your businesses utilities. Is your water heater properly installed so that it won’t fall over in a quake? Are fire alarms and extinguishers in proper working order?

Your building. There are many factors to take into account to ensure that your building is ready for an earthquake. Even things like design, furnishings and when the building was constructed can have an effect.

The soil underneath a building can also have a major effect on its sustainability during a quake. Soft, clay-like soils tend to absorb the motion of an earthquake better than a rocky soil.

Emergency materials. If you and your employees were trapped inside of the building, would you have the supplies to survive? You should consider purchasing or creating emergency kits for your business. Include things like flashlights, collapsible shovels, first-aid materials, water and some snacks. Be sure to make a few extra kits for customers or guests who might be at your building that day.

These kits should be accessible and easy to grab if you need to exit the building.

Prepare Your Employees
The next step in preparing your business is to prepare your employees to know what to do during the earthquake.

Establish an emergency coordinator. Depending on the size of your business, you may want to establish one of your employees as the emergency coordinator. They can head up projects that deal with emergency planning and conducting drills.

Also consider providing incentives to employees who become CPR certified or take time to teach your customers and the community around you about emergency preparedness.

Under the desk. The best thing that you and your employees can do during an earthquake is get underneath a desk or some sturdy structure and hold on. You might have heard in the past that that getting under a door frame is the best idea. However, Steve Bowman, project manager for Utah Geological Hazards, sets the record straight.

“Getting to a door frame might be harder than you think,” Bowman said. “There might be a lot of falling objects around the room. We recommend getting under a desk and holding on – the ‘Drop, Cover and Hold On’ technique.”

Escape plan. Be sure to have a plan in place and practice it periodically with your employees. They should all know their escape route from the building. You should practice this plan at least once a quarter.

Establish a meeting location. Once the earthquake stops, you and your employees need to know where to meet. Have a location where your business can check in to make sure everyone is OK. This location should be outdoors and easy to access if emergency responders need to help you.

An emergency coordinator will have the responsibility of taking roll and making sure everyone is safe.

Communication. After you’ve made sure that everyone is accounted for. Have plans in place to ensure that your employees can reach their family members. While many times, phone lines are jammed after an emergency, the Federal Communications Commission recommends that you send text messages to ensure family members that you are safe. Many times text messages will go through the system easier than a phone call.

Prepare for the Effects on Your Business
There are many smaller business that don’t make it out of an earthquake financially.

“Many times, the impact of being closed for a few days or having their utilities or shipping interrupted for a few days can devastate a business,” Brown said. Remember that your mortgages and bills will not wait because of an earthquake.

Earthquake insurance. Would insurance cover your business location in case of an earthquake? Not all insurance policies do! Check out your insurance policy to see what kind of damage it covers. There are some types of earthquake insurance policies that can be purchased separately, which might be a good fit for your business.

Federal assistance. Interestingly, the majority of federal assistance money after an earthquake goes toward low-interest loans to qualified business.

FEMA assistance is only available when the government declares a federal disaster. Business can apply for loans to help against building damage, employee loss or other working capital needs. However, if a disaster is declared, your business will have to apply to FEMA or the Small Business Administration (SBA) for a loan.

Emergency power. If an earthquake strikes, the power grid might be knocked out. Be sure to have a contingency plan in place for electricity and power at your business. You might consider a generator or installing solar panels.

Helping your local community. As a business, you have a responsibility to your local community and customers. You can include plans to be able to help people in your local community clean up after the mess.

Your business would have to make plans to have access to tools, food, water, extra clothing and more to help the community. Besides fulfilling your duty to the local community, this will also establish a long-lasting relationship with customers and potential customers.

You’ll be prepared!
Once you’ve established a plan and ensured that your business will keep going – you’ll be ready to face an earthquake.

There are lots of resources out there including videos, brochures and reading material on ussc.utah.gov. You can also learn more and sign up to participate in the Utah Shake Out on April 17th at shakeout.org/utah.

We would encourage you to prepare for an earthquake by making plans now!

Read the original article here (subscription required).

By The Ready Store

We’re excited to tell you that The Ready Store will be participating in the Great Utah ShakeOut on April 17th at 10:15 am!

The ShakeOut is a state-wide earthquake drill planned to help businesses, organizations, families and individuals prepare for an earthquake in Utah!

On Feb. 7, 2012, nine states in the Midwest participated in one of the largest earthquake drills ever in the area. Over 2.4 million people registered for the event in Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi.

Similar drills have occurred in other areas of the United States. Now, the ShakeOut drills are spreading across the nation to states like Utah, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. They also have drills planned internationally in Tokyo, New Zealand, British Columbia and more!

Here is a video that Be Ready Utah put together for the event. The video explains the effects of the earthquake would have on the state of Utah.

If you are a Utah resident and would like to participate in the drill, visit Shakeout.org/Utah to register.

They also supply videos, manuals and other resources that you can use to prepare and train those around you!

By The Ready Store

Fuel is one of the most important things that you can use in an emergency. Whether it powers a car, generator, or stove; you’ll need to make sure that your fuel is ready for when you need it.

Handle all fuels with care. Remember that all of these could light at a moment’s notice.

We’ve collected a few tips on how to properly store different types of fuels, where you should store them, and how long they can store.

Containers for liquid fuel
When storing fuel, or other fire-starting material, you’ll want to make sure to put them in a different colored container. Most of the time, liquid fuels are stored in red containers. At a minimum, containers should be obviously labeled.

Make sure that containers are sturdy, reliable and have a good seal on them. You want to make sure that the fuel won’t leak. You should also consider a container that isn’t clear or translucent.

Gasoline

The American Petroleum Institute recommends that you only store gasoline for up to two years. This recommendation does not include gasoline that has been treated with a stabilizer.

There are many types of stabilizers on the shelf that can get your gasoline to store for a few years longer.

While I’ve used gasoline that has been stored for years on my lawn mower, using “stale” gasoline that has been stored for an long time can have some diverse effects on your motor. The recommendation for 1-2 years of shelf-life would provide optimal gasoline.

Diesel Fuel
Surprisingly, diesel doesn’t have a very long shelf-life. It can only last for 6-12 months.

The problem with storing diesel is that it begins to oxidize as soon as it leaves the refinery. Sediments begin to form that would clog the motor. This reaction can be slowed by keeping the fuel cooler and by adding stabilizers. The condensation from the gasoline can also form algae.

Some people who store diesel for a long time (the Navy, gas companies) use methods to stabilize their supply. These methods can be pretty expensive though.

We recommend that you store only a maximum of two-month’s worth of diesel at a time and empty the canisters into your car or generator when you rotate. (Thanks to Oblio13’s blog for the insight.)

Kerosene
Kerosene is one of the easiest fuels to store, and is more versatile than most people think. It does not evaporate as readily as gasoline and will remain stable in storage with no special treatment.

Kerosene has a shelf-life of about three months in a plastic container. Storing kerosene for longer than that can result in bacteria and mold forming in the container.

When you store the kerosene, be sure to label the container properly. You want to make sure that it doesn’t mix with gasoline or another type of fuel. You should store your kerosene in a different color container than gas to ensure that they are not mistakenly mixed.

Be sure to store the kerosene outdoors but protected from direct sunlight. Prolonged sunlight can degrade the kerosene.

Butane
Butane isn’t as popular of a fuel as gasoline or kerosene but many people use the fuel for lighters or other small fire starters. Many backpacking kits use butane fuel.

Butane comes in pressurized containers and the canisters are required, by law, to have instructions on the label regarding storage and usage of the product. Following the instructions will ensure that you keep your butane supply safe.

Proper storage is the first element in butane safety. Keep it in a safe place at home that is out of any children’s reach. Many containers can withstand even high temperatures. Even if you live in a climate that is rather warm, your butane should still store well … find a dry and cool place, out of the direct sunlight and away from any other sources of extreme heat.

Additionally, also make sure that the tip of the butane container is not damaged or clogged. If the tip is damaged or is clogged through use, remove the clog or throw away the container and buy a new one. (Read the Ebay article.)

Propane
You’ll obviously want to store your propane in a well-ventilated area outdoors. Make sure that your propane tank is stored upright – probably on a concrete slab.

Don’t store the propane tank next to anything flammable. Also ensure that it is stored in an area where a large amount of water will not fall on the tank – for example, next to a gutter or in the open under the rainfall.

Never store the propane in a house or garage. Click here to read Propane 101’s article about proper propane safety.

Charcoal
Charcoal is a great option for cooking fuel. They might get your hands a little bit messier but that’s not always a bad thing. The good thing is that you can store this dry fuel inside your home! However, never cook with charcoal indoors!

You can store charcoal in a dry location – like a bin or metal canister. You can also make a waterproof container by placing the charcoal in a bucket and use a gamma lid to seal the top. This should keep the briquets by not letting moisture into the bucket!

Coal
According to the Fireplace Supplier Register, coal can be stored in damp places without harming it. It can also be retained in areas that have little or no protection from the rain and snow. If you choose, so you don’t have to handle wet coal, you can cover it outside with tarps to keep it dry.

Store bagged coal inside the bags until you’re ready to use it. It will be easier to store it and carry it to the stove. Coal either comes by the bag or by the truckload (if you order several tons). Loose coal is easier to contain if it’s stored in wooden bins, but it’s not necessary. (Reference to the eHow article.)

Firewood
Avoid the temptation to keep a lot of firewood in your home. You can obviously carry in a few logs indoors at a time, but the best location to store firewood is outdoors. It’s recommended that you keep your firewood at least 30 feet away from your house – not leaning against the house, next to the door. Ideally, wood should be kept off the ground too.

You can make a simple firewood holder out of two-by-fours in order to stack the wood properly. Be sure to stack the larger pieces of wood on the bottom of the pile. This will help the pile from leaning or falling over. Here is an article on how to build a firewood caddy.

You’ll want to use a cover to protect the wood from getting wet. You can purchase a specific log rack cover or a simple tarp will do. Make sure that the cover is secured so it doesn’t blow away in the wind.

You may notice that there are some bugs in your firewood. Do not spray your wood with insecticide! This can seep into the wood and fume in your house when you burn the log. Instead, the best thing to do is dry out the wood as quickly as possible. This will encourage most of the bugs to leave the wood.

Matches
There are a variety of matches out there. Avoid placing cheap matchbooks in your kits and emergency supplies. They can absorb moisture a lot easier.

Instead, focus on matches that are waterproof and have longer stems. This will allow you to light things from a safe distance and make sure that your matches are safe from moisture.

If you don’t have waterproof matches, you can place your matches in a waterproof container. Make sure that the container is a thick plastic and isn’t stored in direct sunlight.

By The Ready Store

Here is the live feed of Obama’s energy announcement today. Do you think it’s going to change anything? What do you think about it?

So what do you think? Is anything going to actually change? Well, just in case, check out some ways that you can be energy self-sufficient.

Previously, we discussed emergency lighting using candles, flashlights and lanterns. In this section we’ll discuss how car light strips can be used along with generators.

Car lights
A really creative idea that we came across was using car’s under-carriage strips. These lights are flexible and shouldn’t take up a ton of energy. If you needed to tack them on to a wall or ceiling they would be really easy.

Generators
If you have the means to get a generator, you’ll need to decide on purchasing a permanent or portable generator. The Learning Center at StateFarm, mentions that a permanent generator “remain permanently outside the home and on standby. They run on an existing fuel source – either liquid propane or natural gas – and are capable of generating enough wattage to re-energize your home only seconds after it loses power.”

Make sure that you have a qualified electrician look at how you set up your permanent generator. If they are hooked up incorrectly, they can lead to “back feed” of a home’s wiring. These generators can also be fairly expensive.

[Portable generators ]offer a more affordable option, when only a few vital electrical items are needed during a power outage. These generators are smaller and can be wheeled out of the garage. Their primary fuel is gasoline, so they should never be run inside the home or any enclosed area, where deadly carbon monoxide gas can accumulate.

In order to select the best backup generator for yourself and your family, determine just how much power you would need in the event of a blackout. What could you do without for a few days? Hot water? Cold food? Check the manufacturer information for each appliance to find out the wattage of your necessary appliances, and then tally their numbers. A portable generator may be your best option if you stay aware of your energy consumption, and hold to using the wattage limit of the generator. Depending on the model, portables can generate between 2,500 and 4,500 watts. By using energy wisely, you’ll still be able to comfortably endure a blackout. (Read full article at StateFarm’s Learning Center.)

If you are wanting more information about generators, please read a post that we sent out a while back.

There are a lot of options for emergency lighting needs. While some might just be getting started with their lighting needs, others might be well prepared. Just be sure to be prepared to give yourself peace of mind in an emergency situation.

You don’t realize how much lighting and electricity you use until you don’t have it anymore.

While most of us probably don’t have the means (or time) to make our own solar/wind turbine power station like this guy in the video below.

There are still a number of things that you can do to have light and electricity during an emergency.

Candles
The good thing is that candles are inexpensive. However, they only last for a certain amount of time. If you need a quick solution, candles are a great alternative.

LED Flashlights
When purchasing flashlights, LED is probably the best route. LED flashlights are typically a little more expensive than other flashlights but they kick incandescent and fluorescent flashlight’s trash. Check out the comparison of for the different bulbs:

We love it when a company comes up with the a new innovation that that can be applied to emergency situations.  We’re happy to introduce GOALØ into The Ready Store product family! GOALØ provides you with an amazing back up power source that is clean and easy to use! With an extremely durable and well tested product line, you have the assurance that you have a trusted source of power.

The great thing with GOALØ is that they have a product for any situation, the Sherpa 120 Battery and the Nomad 27M Solar Panel are ideal for Grab-n-Go™ and the Ranger 350 Battery and Boulder 30M Solar Panel are an incredible options for Shelter-in-Place™.

Since the introduction of this product on our site we’ve had many people call in with some common questions and so I thought we could address them in this post.

FAQ – What makes these Solar Panels so Great?

The Nomad 27M, the Boulder 30M and the Escape 30M give an immediate power source for USB and 12V  DC devices.  A large part of the population use cell phones. A cell phone could help in an emergency situation.  The ability to charge with a USB port makes the Nomad 27M Solar Panel, Boulder 30M Solar Panel, and Escape 30M Solar Panel a must have.

Not only are the Solar Panels great stand alone products, but you can connect multiple units together and the combined power will increase it’s ability to charge your battery.

FAQ – What makes the Inverters so Great?

With 50-Watt hours of PowerPack storage capacity you’ll have the power you need to run your small electrical appliances.  GOALØ inverters are rugged and weather resistant, designed to be lightweight and compact, the inverters come in sizes that can practically meet any need you have.  And just like the Solar Panels, the inverters can be connected together to give you increased power.  In an emergency, you’ll have an amazing network that can power most house hold items.

FAQ - Can an Inverter power my refrigerator?

Presently GOALØ does not have an inverter that can power the average home refrigerator, but for those who have an RV refrigerator it can handle a unit that small.

FAQ - Do I have to use the solar panel to charge the battery?

No, with having a 12v input and output you can plug your battery into any house hold outlet. So what that boils down to is you will always have a charged battery and so when the power does go out and if it is night time you don’t have to stress about having no sunlight.

FAQ – What will the battery power?

FAQ - How long does it take to charge?

This is a great line of products, but you definitely don’t have to take my word for it!  Do some research and go onto YouTube, search for GOALØ and watch the videos of different people that have used this item and you’ll find that I’m not the only one who’s excited about GOALØ.

When regular electric service has been interrupted by damage to power lines or power stations due to storms, floods, land slides, earthquakes, it’s referred to as a power outage. Most people have come to rely on electric power for their day-to-day survival needs.  In some situations, electric power can be out for days or weeks. You can plan ahead for the possibility of losing electric power by knowing where the flashlight and other emergency supplies are kept.

What should I do if the power goes out?

* Check the fuse box to see if there is a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker. Sometimes the power outage will be limited to your own home.

* If one needs to be replaced, turn off all large appliances or unplug them before you replace a fuse or a breaker to avoid damage to the electrical system.

* Check your neighborhood to see if others are without power.

* Call to report the power outage. Call only once to keep the line open for other customers. Most land-lines should still work.

Check with your local authorities to find out the numbers you should call before hand.  Keep these numbers in a place you will remember.

What to do when you see damaged or downed power lines in your neighborhood?

* Don’t get near any fallen or sagging power line.

* Call the utility company about the line.

* Keep children or others away from the problem area.

How to protect your electric appliances from electrical power surges when the power returns:

* Sometimes when power is restored, power levels can vary considerably. This variation can damage electrical appliances.

* Turn off the lights and electrical appliances except for the refrigerator and the freezer.

* After you have turned off the lights, go back and turn on one single lamp so that you will know when the power is working again.

* Wait at least 15 minutes before turning on the remaining appliances after the power has been restored.

* Use power-surge protectors on your desktop computer or laptop to make sure your data is protected.

Special precautions for those using life support equipment at home:

* People who depend on electrical equipment to treat a health problem should have a plan in advance of a power outage.

* In some cases, this may mean purchasing a back-up power supply such as a generator or going to a health care facility that has back-up power.

* People who use life support equipment should register with the local utility. When they do this, the utility will make them a top priority for power supply repair and restoration.

How should I use a power generator?
* For your safety, always follow the manufacturer’s instruction on the use of power generators.

* Since most generators are powered by gasoline and can generate carbon monoxide gas, run them outdoors where the fumes will not cause illness.

* Power generators should never be plugged into your home’s main electrical panel as this may result in serious injury or death to utility personnel working to restore power.

* Instead, plug the generator directly into the appliance you wish to use during the outage.

* Safely store extra gasoline to be ready at a moments notice.

How long will the food in my refrigerator and freezer remain cold enough to prevent food borne illness?

* It is important to keep freezer and refrigerator doors closed to prevent the loss of cold air.

* A fully loaded refrigerator may keep food fresh for about six hours.

* A fully loaded freezer may keep food frozen for up to two days.

* If any food in the refrigerator or freezer is warmer than 41° F, throw it out.

* In a severe emergency or disaster, expect electric power to be out for several days. Consider relocating to a shelter or to a friend’s home where heat and power are available.

* WARNING: Never use charcoal, gas, or propane heaters indoors. Doing so can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. These can also increase the risk of fire.

Make sure you have adequate food and water stored.  Freeze-Dried-Food is perfect for this situation as you only need to add water to eat it.

What is a power outage?

When regular electric service has been interrupted by damage to power lines or power stations due to storms, floods, land slides, earthquakes, it’s referred to as a power outage. Most people have come to rely on electric power for their day-to-day survival needs.  In some situations, electric power can be out for days or weeks. You can plan ahead for the possibility of losing electric power by knowing where the flashlight and other emergency supplies are kept.

What should I do if the power goes out?

* Check the fuse box to see if there is a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker. Sometimes the power outage will be limited to your own home.

* If one needs to be replaced, turn off all large appliances or unplug them before you replace a fuse or a breaker to avoid damage to the electrical system.

* Check your neighborhood to see if others are without power.

* Call to report the power outage. Call only once to keep the line open for other customers. Most land-lines should still work.

Check with your local authorities to find out the numbers you should call before hand.  Keep these numbers in a place you will remember.

What to do when you see damaged or downed power lines in your neighborhood?

* Don’t get near any fallen or sagging power line.

* Call the utility company about the line.

* Keep children or others away from the problem area.

How to protect your electric appliances from electrical power surges when the power returns:

* Sometimes when power is restored, power levels can vary considerably. This variation can damage electrical appliances.

* Turn off the lights and electrical appliances except for the refrigerator and the freezer.

* After you have turned off the lights, go back and turn on one single lamp so that you will know when the power is working again.

* Wait at least 15 minutes before turning on the remaining appliances after the power has been restored.

* Use power-surge protectors on your desktop computer or laptop to make sure your data is protected.

Special precautions for those using life support equipment at home:

* People who depend on electrical equipment to treat a health problem should have a plan in advance of a power outage.

* In some cases, this may mean purchasing a back-up power supply such as a generator or going to a health care facility that has back-up power.

* People who use life support equipment should register with the local utility. When they do this, the utility will make them a top priority for power supply repair and restoration.

How should I use a power generator?

* For your safety, always follow the manufacturer’s instruction on the use of power generators.

* Since most generators are powered by gasoline and can generate carbon monoxide gas, run them outdoors where the fumes will not cause illness.

* Power generators should never be plugged into your home’s main electrical panel as this may result in serious injury or death to utility personnel working to restore power.

* Instead, plug the generator directly into the appliance you wish to use during the outage.

* Safely store extra gasoline to be ready at a moments notice.

How long will the food in my refrigerator and freezer remain cold enough to prevent food borne illness?

* It is important to keep freezer and refrigerator doors closed to prevent the loss of cold air.

* A fully loaded refrigerator may keep food fresh for about six hours.

* A fully loaded freezer may keep food frozen for up to two days.

* If any food in the refrigerator or freezer is warmer than 41° F, throw it out.

* In a severe emergency or disaster, expect electric power to be out for several days. Consider relocating to a shelter or to a friend’s home where heat and power are available.

* WARNING: Never use charcoal, gas, or propane heaters indoors. Doing so can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. These can also increase the risk of fire.

Make sure you have adequate food and water stored.  Freeze-Dried-Food is perfect for this situation as you only need to add water to eat it.