What to do in a power outage

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Story Published: Dec 16, 2008 at 9:59 PM PST

By Elissa Harrington

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Eugene, Ore - Emergency officials say they're ready for the storm but there's a few thing you can do to make sure you're ready too.

The rare snow storms we see around here can be fun but they can also be dangerous. Lance Robertson with the Eugene Water and Electric Board says any time there's snow and wind, there's reason for concern.

"We often get outages," he says. "It just depends on the severity of the storm. Most of those outages are caused by snow falling on limbs of trees and then those limbs or branches falling on power lines."

If power outages do take place, there are a few steps everyone at home should take.

First, report the outage. Check for tipped breakers or fuses. Unplug electrical items like tv's and microwaves. But keep your porch light switch on so power crews can monitor whose is on and whose is off.

If all else fails, EWEB officials say the best thing you can do is make an emergency kit. Inside, keep a flashlight, extra batteries, a blanket, and plenty of food and water to last at least a few days.

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