What to do if you lose power during a storm

With over 768,000 homes, farms and businesses losing power last week as Storm Éowyn swept across the country, a power outage during a storm can be a pretty unnerving experience, particularly if it occurs at night.

With storms appearing to be ever more frequent, the possibility of losing the electricity supply in your home or workplace is something that can happen at any time of the year.

While thankfully, power is often restored relatively quickly, such is our reliance on electricity that it can feel like a long and unsettling time while it’s out.

Here MyHome offers you some tips on what to do if your power goes out during a storm…

1. Prepare if possible:

• Be prepared: Storms are flagged in advance with either a yellow, orange or red warning. In this case try to ensure you have the likes of devices charged, flashlights on stand by and food and water at home so you are at least geared up to see any potential power outage through.

2. Safety first:

• Avoid using candles: They’re a fire hazard. Instead, use battery-powered flashlights or lanterns.
• Stay away from windows and doors: High winds or debris could cause damage.
• Unplug electronics: Surge protection is key when the power comes back on. Unplug sensitive electronics like computers, TVs and microwaves to avoid potential damage from power surges.

3. Stay Informed:

• Use your phone: If you have a charged phone, keep track of weather updates via a weather app or social media. A portable charger or power bank can be handy in these situations.
• Battery-powered radio: If you have one, it’s useful for listening to updates if you can't rely on your phone’s battery.

4. Preserve Food:

• Keep fridge/freezer doors closed: A fridge will keep food cold for about 4 hours if unopened, and a freezer can last 48 hours if full, or 24 hours if half-full.
• Limit opening the fridge or freezer as much as possible to keep the cold in.

5. Prepare for Extended Outages:

• Have an emergency kit: Make sure you have water, non-perishable food, blankets, medications and a first aid kit on hand.
• Stay in a safe, warm/cool room: Depending on the season, it’s important to make sure you stay comfortable while waiting for the power to be restored.

6. Use Alternative Heat Sources Cautiously:

• If it's cold and you rely on space heaters, be extra cautious with propane, kerosene, or wood stoves. Ensure proper ventilation to prevent carbon monoxide buildup.

7. Communicate:

• Let friends or family know you're safe if you can. If you have neighbours who are elderly or live alone, check on them as well.

8. Wait for Updates from Authorities:

• Many local authorities provide updates on the storm situation via their respective social media channels while you can also keep tabs on the ESB’s Powercheck page to get a gauge on numbers affected in your area and an estimated restoration time.

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