Things to Do During a Power Outage 

Power outages can happen unexpectedly, leaving you without electricity for hours or even days. While it’s easy to feel frustrated or helpless, there are plenty of things you can do to make the situation more manageable and even productive. Staying calm and having a plan will help you navigate the disruption smoothly. 

Tips to Follow During a Power Outage 

Here are some helpful tips from a professional Atlanta electrician for what to do during a power outage. 

1. Stay Safe and Check for Hazards 

The first thing you should do during a power outage is ensure your safety. If you’re at home, check for any immediate hazards, like exposed wires or electrical smells. It’s important to turn off all electrical appliances, especially sensitive ones like computers, TVs, and stoves, to avoid damage when the power returns. If you have candles or oil lamps, use them carefully to prevent fires, and never leave them unattended. Additionally, check on any household members, especially those who are elderly or have medical conditions, to make sure they’re comfortable and safe during the outage. 

2. Use Alternative Light Sources 

Since you won’t have access to electric lighting during a power outage, make sure you have reliable alternative light sources on hand. Flashlights, battery-operated lanterns, or glow sticks are great options. If you’re running low on batteries, be resourceful—use the flashlight on your phone, though conserve battery life as much as possible. If it’s daylight, open your blinds or curtains to let natural light in. Keeping a backup power supply, like a portable battery charger, will ensure you’re never left in the dark, literally or figuratively. 

3. Keep Food and Water Safe 

If the power outage lasts for a few hours, your food may be safe, but anything longer could put your perishable items at risk. Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed to preserve the cold temperature. A full freezer can stay cold for up to 48 hours, while a half-full freezer will maintain its temperature for about 24 hours. If you have access to ice, use it to keep perishables cool. If you’re unsure about food safety after the power has been out for more than a few hours, it’s better to err on the side of caution and throw away any questionable items. 

4. Stay Informed 

In today’s world, staying informed during a power outage is crucial. If you don’t have electricity, your phone’s battery could be your lifeline to news and updates. Be sure to keep your phone charged, especially if you rely on it for communication. If the power is out in your area due to a storm, local authorities or power companies may provide updates on the estimated time of restoration. You can also use a battery-operated radio to listen to emergency broadcasts. Staying informed allows you to plan accordingly, whether you need to prepare for a longer outage or make other arrangements. 

5. Engage in Activities to Pass the Time 

If the power outage is extended, you’ll need to keep yourself and your family entertained. This is the perfect opportunity to engage in activities that don’t require electricity. If you have children, consider playing board games, cards, or telling stories. If you’re alone, pick up a book or try a craft that doesn’t need power. You can also take advantage of the time to relax and disconnect—sometimes, a break from screens is a welcome respite.  

Conclusion: Tips to Follow During a Power Outage 

Power outages are an unfortunate but inevitable part of life. The key to managing them is staying calm, safe, and proactive. Engaging in non-electrical activities can keep spirits high, and preparing for future outages ensures you’re ready when they happen. Next time the lights go out, you’ll be equipped to handle the situation with confidence and ease. 

When Should You Install a Standby Generator  

For many sorts of firms, unexpected power disruptions can be disastrous. Whether you retail perishable foods or operate in mechanical production, a power outage may cost you money in the form of service interruptions and wasted goods. Commercial electrician Atlanta, as a leading company of commercial electrical solutions like standby generator operations, understands how critical it is for companies to be equipped for extended brownouts. That’s why we’ve put together some data to show how you need a power generator for the company you are operating in.  

Business Advantages of Standby Generators You Need to Know  

Companies of all sorts and sizes, whatever goods or services they supply, can benefit from having or installing standby generators. The following are the advantages you can get as a business owner:  

Product loss, as well as important data loss, are less likely to occur. 

In several companies and firms, data loss poses a major risk. A loss of electricity without prior notice may also imply a tragic loss of whichever your staff was operating on if they rely on laptops or other digital equipment. Moreover, when there is an unforeseen power failure, physical hard disks and the files contained in them might have serious difficulties, possibly damaging important files or data.   

Additionally, if your company deals with customer information, a loss of such data might result in irreversible loss to your client relationships. Besides data loss, power outages may result in good damage and loss. Particularly for those businesses that deal with fresh items or products sensitive to temperature, you might lose huge amounts of money in supplies in just a matter of hours. All of this can be caused by a single power outage event. However, this can be prevented; data and goods are protected with a backup generator.  

Improved safety of workers and personnel   

For factories and warehouses, industrial plants, and several other businesses that require speed when doing processes, a protracted power loss may dramatically raise the rate of injury and other problems that harm the lives of people working at the moment. While accidents and hazards differ from one company to the next, one thing needs to be ascertained, they must always be resolved easily to protect the safety of all personnel. The critical lighting control systems and other machinery will remain operational during a long outage when you have a backup generator, improving employee safety.  

The downtime, which would be otherwise extended, would be reduced.  

When an unscheduled power loss happens, a backup generator effectively helps you keep the needed operations running. If your company loses power unexpectedly without prior notice, surely, it will almost certainly come to a standstill until the electricity is restored. What are the implications of this? Well, unfortunately, this extended downtime can cost your business a lot, particularly if your company deals with perishable products or communicates regularly with customers and prospective consumers over Wi-Fi networks. You can keep your business running even if your major source of electricity goes out, avoiding expensive downtime.  

If you think you cannot afford such incidences and losses, then it is the right time to consider installing a standby generator!