Preparing For Outages

Make a Plan and Assemble a Kit

Keep these items on hand:

Flashlights and fresh batteries
Battery-powered radio or television and extra batteries
Land line phone with cord (Cordless phones require electricity to operate)
Land line phone (cordless phones require electricity to operate)
Battery-powered or windup alarm clock
A supply of bottled water (one gallon per person per day)
Non-perishable foods that require no heating
Blankets, bedding, or sleeping bags and a change of clothes
First Aid Kit and prescription medications
Hand-operated can opener
Special items for infants, the elderly or family members with special needs
Hand tools such as a hammer, screwdriver; scissors; duct tape; plastic garbage bags; paper and pencil; waterproof matches; household bleach
Identification and copies of important family documents in a waterproof container
Emergency Services and Edmond Electric telephone numbers

Collect and store these items ahead of time in order to save valuable time and to be prepared in the event of a wide variety of potential emergencies. Check the links under Additional Resources to our Federal, State and local Emergency Management Agency partners for additional information on preparations for potential emergencies.

Protect Your Food

Stock up on shelf-stable foods such as canned goods, juices, peanut butter, "power" bars, trail mixes and "no-freeze" entrees.
Plan ahead how you can keep foods cold. Buy some freeze-pak inserts and keep them frozen. Buy a cooler. Freeze water in plastic jugs or containers or store bags of ice.
Know in advance where you can buy dry and block ice.
Develop emergency freezer-sharing plans with friends in another part of town or in a nearby area.
Keep freezer and refrigerator doors closed; open them only when absolutely necessary. Food will stay frozen for 36-48 hours in a fully loaded freezer if you keep the door closed.
A half-full freezer will generally keep food frozen for 24 hours. If you have time in advance of the storm, fill up your freezer by filling plastic bottles with water and freezing them.

Protect Electronic Equipment

Purchase electronic equipment with built-in protection or a battery-powered back-up system.
Use electrical surge suppressors or arresters on all sensitive electronic equipment. Most are designed to be plugged into a wall outlet.
Plug computers and other sensitive electronic equipment into a separate, grounded circuit to isolate them from fluctuations caused when a major appliance starts, such as a room air conditioner or refrigerator.
Consider a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) for temporary battery back-up power for sensitive electronic equipment.
Consider having a lightning arrester installed at your main circuit panel. This generally requires the services of a licensed electrician.

Stay Alert for Downed Lines

If you see a downed power line, let Edmond Electric know immediately by calling (405) 359-4655.

Stay away from any downed line. Assume it's live and dangerous, and warn children to stay away and notify an adult. Downed lines do not always spark, burn or arc. Never assume any downed wire is harmless. Objects such as metal fences and water in contact with power lines could be energized and lethal. STAY AWAY.

Using a Generator

If you plan to use a portable generator during power outages, here are some important safety precautions:

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when using a generator.
Locate your generator in a well-ventilated area. Never run it inside, even in your garage. Gasoline powered generators produce carbon monoxide and the fumes can be deadly. Store gasoline or other flammable liquids outside of living areas in properly marked approved containers. They should also not be stored in a garage if a fuel-burning appliance is located there.
Plug appliances directly into the generator using heavy duty, properly grounded extension cords. Make sure extension cords are not frayed or worn.
Use the generator only when necessary, and don't overload it. Turn it off at night while you sleep and when you are away from home, to avoid possible fire hazard.
For your safety and the safety of Edmond Electric employees working to restore power, do not connect your generator directly into your home's main fuse box or circuit panel. Improperly connected generators can feed electricity back into the electrical system, endangering field personnel working to restore your power. Consult a qualified electrical contractor if a permanent generator installation is desired.