power outage prep, per Ready.gov

the actual government checklist, before/during/after. (learned this one late) - do the before section before you need the during section.

Take inventory of what in your home relies on electricity

Get flashlights for every household member

not just one for the junk drawer, one per person, or someone ends up using a phone flashlight for six hours

Plan for batteries and an alternative power source (portable charger, power bank)

Determine whether your home phone works in an outage and how long the battery backup lasts

Talk to your medical provider about a plan for electricity-dependent devices and refrigerated medicines

Find out how long your medication can be stored at higher temperatures

Install carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup on every level of the home

do this first, honestly, not after

During: keep freezers and refrigerators closed

During: if using a generator, run it ONLY outdoors and away from windows

this is the line that saves lives in this checklist, don't skim it

During: never use a gas stove or oven to heat the home

carbon monoxide risk, not a workaround

During: disconnect appliances and electronics to avoid surge damage

After: throw away food exposed to 40°F or higher for two or more hours

After: also toss anything with an unusual odor, color, or texture, when in doubt

After: if the outage lasted more than a day, discard medication that needed refrigeration unless the label says otherwise

Or start a list of your own. Free, it takes a minute.

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