CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Power is out for hundreds of thousands of people across Northeast Ohio.
This is impacting customers of FirstEnergy Corp, Cleveland Public Power and AEP Ohio.
19 News caught up with FirstEnergy for their do’s and don’ts during power outages.
We also have information from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on what to do about food.
Do’s and Don’ts of Power Outages
FirstEnergy said during storms utility crews always work to restore power as quickly as possible. Depending on the damage’s severity and the amount of work that needs to be done, customers may be without power for an extended period.
Here are a few tips to safely power through an extended outage:
Do’s
Check with your neighbors to see if their power is out too, or if only your location is affected. If your house appears to be the only one without power, the outage may be specific to you.
Safely check your circuit breakers or fuses to see if a breaker is tripped or a fuse is blown. If so, getting your power back on may be as simple as flipping a switch.
After you’ve determined you can’t resolve the issue, report your outage immediately. This can help us pinpoint damage and restore power more quickly.
Stay informed by enrolling in our alert service to receive automatic text messages and/or emails when there is a status update for your outage. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter for alerts and updates as well.
Check out our real-time outage page for the most up-to-date information on your outage, including causes, estimated restoration times and crew status.
If your outage is expected to last for an extended period, keep your refrigerator and freezer closed to preserve food for as long as possible. Consider purchasing bags of ice and placing them inside to help save perishable food.
If possible to do so safely, consider relocating to a more comfortable location. Heat rises, so try repositioning yourself to the lowest level of the home to stay the coolest.
Safely operate a generator by following all instructions in the manufacturer’s written documentation, such as an operating manual and all local building codes.
Turn off or unplug sensitive electrical devices to safeguard them from power surges that may occur during the restoration process. Leave an incandescent light on so you know when the power comes back.
Spend time with family having fun, playing games and building memories. If the conditions are safe to do so, go outside and get some fresh air and exercise.
Just as important as knowing what to do during an outage, is knowing what to avoid.
Don’ts
Do not panic. Call 911 if an emergency develops. If you spot a downed wire, assume it is live and dangerous, steer clear of the area, and call 911 to report it immediately.
Never assume we know your lights are out. Our technology helps us identify when large blocks of customers are without power, but it does not tell us where individual outages occur.
NEVER OPERATE A GENERATOR INSIDE YOUR HOME. Exhaust from backup generators contain a high level of carbon monoxide (CO) gas, which can be dangerous or even fatal if inhaled
Don’t use candles around pets or small children and never leave burning candles unattended.
Avoid wasting the batteries on your electronic devices for non-essential activity so that you can stay connected and updated.
Be Prepared
Preparing for an outage before it happens can help minimize the challenges you face when the lights go out. Consider keeping an emergency kit with these items:
- Flashlights
- First aid kit
- Extra Batteries
- Battery-powered Radio
- Bottled Water
- Camping Equipment
- Cell Phone and Car Charger
Managing through power outages is much easier when you’re already prepared. For more information, visit www.firstenergycorp.com/outages
SNAP and Power Outages
Cuyahoga County Job and Family Services said replacement SNAP Benefits may be available to people who have been without power for four hours or more.
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