LETTER: Weather may affect your electrical service

With the worst of winter likely yet to come, we may need to be reminded that we might have to spend 48 hours without electricity if a major winter storm hits and electrical service is lost.

If you have medical devices that run on electricity, make arrangements in advance for an alternative place to stay during a severe electrical outage.

Here are some other precautions:
• Store water and nonperishable food items for emergencies.
• Purchase a battery-operated radio and flashlight. Remember that flashlights are safer than candles.
• Keep on hand extra batteries and a first-aid kit.
• Keep on hand a seven-day supply of medicines.
• Remember, you can set your alarm on your cell phone, which doesn’t require electricity. If you don’t own a cell phone, keep on hand a wind-up alarm for times when the electricity is out.
• Cell phones need to be charged. You can charge a cell phone off your car battery with an appropriate adapter.
• In advance, know how to release your garage door to operate manually.
• Keep a noncordless phone, which will work without electricity.
• Keep your car’s gas tank full.
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors shut as much as possible. An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for 4 hours. A full freezer will hold its temperature for about 48 hours if the door stays closed. Reduce that to 24 hours if the freezer is half full.
• Use refrigerated foods first. Save nonperishable items for later use.

JULIE HAKES
Tell City Electric Department