Editor's Note: This post was submitted 9/15/2008. We hope that Diana's situation has improved significantly since submitting this.
Hurricane Ike has devastated Texas, Kentucky National Guard have been deployed to assist and the Louisville, Kentucky area was hit by Hurricane force winds Sunday afternoon leaving a trail of downed trees, wrecked homes, power outages and devastation.
Our entire city is currently without power, no gas stations are open and trees are across all roads leading from my house. I don't have electricity, telephone service or reliable cell phone service at my home. But we are safe and relatively happy.
Here are a few tips to get you through any emergency:
- Be prepared: This takes some advance planning. Stock up on the following:
- At least 1-5 liter container of drinking water
- Emergency radio which operates on a crank battery
- flashlights with WORKING batteries (we also have several of those press on dome lights)
- a manual can opener and canned goods that can be eaten without warming
- Always refill your cars gas tank when it gets between 1/2 to 1/4 full.
- Keep your cell phone recharged.
- KNOW where your emergency supplies are kept (we keep all our flashlights in one closet).
- NEVER approach downed power lines. Call your provider and report downed lines as soon as you are safely able to do so.
- Downed tree limbs can be deadly. Limbs can fall unexpectedly, chain saws are dangerous. IF you are inexperienced proceed with extreme caution! Paying to have limbs removed is cheaper than the hospital bill that results from you trying to do it yourself.
- NEVER use a gas or charcoal grill inside your home.
- Report any damages to your homeowners insurance. Take photos of damage. Remember that losing the contents of that basement freezer can result in a paid claim.
- Consider purchasing a gas generator if you live in areas prone to power outages. This can preserve your refrigerator contents and allow you to make a pot of coffee or use the microwave. If you have a gas generator be sure to know how to use it properly and keep gas, in an approved container, handy. Don't use the generator indoors.
- RELAX, Take a nap or use this time to play games with your kids, take a walk (if it is safe to do so), pickup small sticks and limbs for a bonfire later in the season (make a game out of cleaning up your yard), reconnect with your neighbors, lend a hand to a less fortunate neighbor or an elderly person in your neighborhood. Share your chainsaw or power tool skills and lastly count your blessings.
Source: My own unfortunate experiences with prolonged power outages :-)
By Diana from Prospect, KY
