Be Prepared — Hurricane Season Is Here

BERLIN — If a hurricane hit Connecticut in the next 12 or 24 hours, would you be prepared to live without electricity for an extended period of time? The Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P) is urging the public to take very simple, common-sense steps that could make a big difference during a major event.

“While no one can predict exactly where or when a storm might hit, by preparing ahead of time, being without electricity will be more manageable. Patience and preparation can make an uncomfortable situation more tolerable,” said Jim LaChance, CL&P’s manager of emergency operations.

August and September are the peak months of hurricane season, and a storm can develop with very little warning. CL&P recommends the following steps to help customers in the event of severe weather:

Check medications that require refrigeration. Find out whether they will be affected by a prolonged interruption of power.

Set refrigerators and freezers to coldest settings. Try to do this in advance of a storm hitting. Be sure to return the settings to their normal position as soon as the crisis has passed.

Get extra ice. Ice will help maintain cold temperatures in a freezer and refrigerator. Use plastic bags filled with ice or water (if there is enough time to freeze it) in the freezer. If the ice melts, it can be used as drinking water.

Set aside water. This is vital if you depend on a water pump that might be disabled during a storm. Sanitize and fill containers with water for drinking; fill the bathtub with water for use in the toilet. A bucket of water poured in the toilet bowl is all that is needed for flushing.

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

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

Prepare alternate sources of heat. Even a gas or oil furnace needs electricity to operate, so if you have a fireplace or woodstove as an alternate heat source, make sure you have enough wood. A portable generator can be a valuable source of power to operate appliances in your home. Be sure any generator is installed by a licensed electrician.

Unplug sensitive electronic equipment. Voltage irregularities can occur during or after a storm, especially if there has been damage in or near your home. The safest course of action is to unplug any sensitive electrical devices (TV, VCR, stereo, microwave, computer, answering machine, garage door opener).

Fill your car’s gas tank. You never know where you may need to go; what’s more, you car can be a place to get warm, as long as it is well-ventilated and you don’t sleep while the motor is running.

Plan to live without everyday tools that need electricity. For example, if you have a garage, be sure you can open and shut its doors manually. And if you keep your basement free from flooding by using an electrical sump pump, be prepared to call your local fire department for help if you lose power for an extended period of time.

Keep a battery-operated radio handy. Stay informed about the storm’s progress, CL&P’s restoration efforts, safety tips, and cleanup operations.

Stay away from downed power lines. Keep your distance from any wire that has come down from a utility pole; don’t drive over a downed line; and if a downed line is near water, keep your distance, even if it is only a puddle. And don’t touch anything that has come in contact with a power line, such as a tree limb.