12 Tips to help you get ready for severe weather

It takes at least two things to get through the adverse effects of a severe storm.

Preparation and patience. Not only can they make an uncomfortable situation tolerable, sometimes they may actually save your life. By following these suggestions, you will be as ready as anyone can to handle the unexpected knocks of a nasty storm. And hopefully, by being well prepared, you will enjoy a certain peace of mind during that period after a storm hits and before your life is back to normal. If you would like answers to any additional questions about storm preparation or electric service, you can always call Bluebonnet. We welcome the opportunity to serve you anytime, 365 days a year. Call 1-800-949-4414 to report any type of interruption.

1. Check medications that require refrigeration.
Be sure you know if they will be affected by a prolonged interruption of power. You may want to talk with your pharmacist. You may also want to keep a small cooler handy.

2. Put refrigerator and freezer at coldest settings.
Do this a half day or so before the storm is scheduled to hit. Keep a blanket handy to throw over these appliances for added insulation, if necessary. (Be sure to return the settings to their normal position as soon as the crisis has passed).

3. Get extra ice.
Ice helps maintain cold temperatures in your freezer and refrigerator. Use plastic bags filled with ice (or water, if you have enough time to freeze it) in the freezer. Use block ice, if possible, in the refrigerator. Should the ice melt, you can drink the water.

4. Set aside water.
This is vital if you depend on a water pump that might be disabled during a storm. Sanitize and fill spare containers with water for drinking. Fill your bathtub with water for use in the toilet. A bucket of water poured in the toilet bowl is all that's needed for flushing. If for any reason you don't have an adequate supply of water to save, and are unable to get enough from friends or neighbors, call your county officials (town clerk, police or fire stations) to ask about nearby water sources.

5. Be prepared to cook outside.
It is possible that your stove will be knocked out of operation, so you may wish to use your backyard grill for cooking. However, do not bring the grill indoors. A grill without proper ventilation can be deadly.

6. Stock up on batteries and easy-to-prepare food.
Give yourself the greatest flexibility in meal preparation and the greatest comfort once the sun goes down. Don't forget flashlights (one for each person in the household), batteries, and a manual can opener.

7. Prepare alternative sources of heat.
Even a gas or oil furnace needs electricity to operate, so if you have a fireplace or wood stove as an alternative heat source, be sure you have enough wood. A portable electric generator can be a valuable backup source of power to operate your furnace and appliances. Just be sure you have it installed by a professional. If you do not have an alternative heat source, find out where an emergency shelter will be, if it is needed. Call your local fire, police department or local Red Cross chapter.

8. Unplug sensitive equipment.
Voltage irregularities can occur for any number of reasons during or after a storm, especially if there has been damage on or near your home. The safest thing to do is to unplug any sensitive electrical devices (e.g., TV, VCR, stereo, microwave, computer, answering machine, and garage door opener). Planning ahead, you may wish to consider surge suppressors. They can be purchased for individual pieces of equipment or for your entire house.

9. Fill your car's gas tank.
You just never know where you may need to go. What's more, your automobile can be a place to get warm, as long as you keep it well ventilated. Please don't sleep while the motor is running.

10. Plan to live without everyday tools that need electricity.
Your garage door opener, for example. Be sure you know how to get the door open and shut manually. Some tools may be battery operated.

11. Keep a battery-operated radio handy.
Be ready to stay informed with the storm's progress, as well as safety tips and clean-up operations. Don't forget fresh batteries.

12. Remember: stay away from downed power lines.
Keep your distance from any downed power line. Don't drive over downed lines and if a downed line is in or near water, keep your distance from the water, even a little puddle. Whether a power line is down or not, don't touch anything that might be in contact with it - like a tree limb, for example. In frigid weather, if your power is likely to be out for more than a few days, you may want to call your plumber and ask about draining your home's water pipes so they don't freeze and burst.