Power Outage? Here's What to Do

During a winter storm, the power could go out at any time. (Remember last winter, when nearly 1 million of us were without power?)

Being prepared can make waiting out a power outage a little easier.

First, the time to charge all of your devices is now. Make sure your cell phone and laptop are at full power, and check to make sure you know where you flashlight is, and that it has fresh batteries.

If the power goes out, check your circuit-breaker box to be sure the problem isn’t just with your home. If not, report the outage to your local power company:

• PECO at 1-800-841-4141. You can also follow outage reports throughPECO’s Twitter page .
• PPL Electric at 1-800-DIAL-PPL (342-5775). You can also follow outage reports through PPL’s Twitter page.
• Met-Ed at 1-888-LIGHTSS (544-4877.) You can also follow outage reports through Met-Ed’s Twitter page.

Never go near fallen power lines. Report the outage and call 911 to report the downed lines.

Turn on one light switch so you’ll know when power is restored, but unplug all your electrical equipment -- including TVs, computers and motor-driven appliances -- to prevent an overload when the power does come back on.

Keep your freezer and refrigerator doors closed to preserve the cool air. Food can last several hours in a power outage if it’s kept cool. Put a blanket over your refrigerator to add insulation to it. After the power is back on, if you’re in doubt, throw it out. See the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for tips about how long food will last in outages.

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