Fire department advises what to do during winter power outage
The winter weather potential is causing a concern for power outages.
ABC 17 News spoke with the Boone County Fire Protection District about what to do if you get a power outage during an ice storm.
Gale Blomenkamp, assistant chief of the Boone County Fire Protection District told ABC 17 News Wednesday that the first thing people should do is have a plan.
“A couple of weeks ago, the ice came in and it formed as people were trying to get home, ” he said. “They weren’t going to beat it. They would have been better off to just stay at work for four hours and let the roads be treated and everyone would have gotten home.”
If the power does go out in your home, you want to report the outage; check your breaker; avoid opening the fridge and freezer; unplug major appliances; keep heat inside your home; have a weather radio and extra batteries. If you have a generator, that’s a good option if you’re experienced.
If you do decide to use a generator, you want to make sure it’s not inside your home. Generators are available at Orscheln Farm & Home, as well as Camping World.
ABC 17 News called around to several hardware stores Wednesday night. A majority do not have generators in stock anymore but Menards is getting a shipment in tonight, and Lowes is taking preorders for a shipment arriving tomorrow.
