[Oremem/Idamem] Dealing with Blackouts- part of a continual series for MARS Members Oregon/Idaho

[SMD John Jewkes OR/ID ARMY MARS]

The following information is gathered from a variety of sources, =
including PGE.Com, ProvidentLiving.org, Ready.gov and a few select =
others. It may help you to be better=20
prepared for Emergencies.
    This is Related to: Dark Day  EEI incidents. While this is =
particularly written to
Families, it will also apply to Single Individuals and Couples without =
Children.=20

Coping with a Blackout =20


This activity will help your family be prepared to deal with power =
failures that result in loss of light and heat.

Materials Needed=20
  a.. Matches and candles=20
  b.. Battery-powered radio=20
  c.. Flashlight and batteries=20
  d.. Fuses (if you have a fuse box that requires fuse replacements)=20
  e.. Food storage items: food requiring no refrigeration or cooking =
such as crackers, canned meats, fruits, dried meats, fish, juices, =
water, and powdered milk=20
Activity=20
Decide on an evening when your family can practice coping with a =
blackout. Parents might want to plan the evening together and then =
surprise the rest of the family.Before dinner, announce that in a few =
minutes you will be turning out the lights. Tell everyone that for a =
specified amount of time they will not be allowed to turn on the lights =
again because tonight your family will be learning what to do during a =
blackout.=20

Have all family members follow these steps:=20

  1.. Don't panic and don't walk around in the dark. You can get hurt if =
you wander about in the dark, especially if you are outside or in a =
strange place.=20
  2.. Check the inside of your home to see if the problem originates =
there. Check the fuse box or circuit breaker box. Find the replacement =
fuses and make sure all family members know how to replace them. If your =
home is run from breaker switches, check them for malfunctioning =
circuits.=20
  3.. If you find the problem does not originate from these sources, =
look out the window to see if other lights are off in the neighborhood. =
If they are not working, turn on your battery-powered radio for =
information. Use your telephone only for serious emergency needs to =
avoid jamming the lines.=20
  4.. Get the flashlight, candles, batteries, and matches.=20
  5.. Discuss how best to prepare your evening meal. Since you have no =
electricity, you must prepare food that requires no cooking. Also, you =
must prepare your meal from food storage or from food on hand. The water =
you will be drinking must also be supplied from your food storage. (Use =
purification tablets if necessary.) Use your creativity.=20
  6.. After your meal, plan some activities that will keep family =
members from feeling frightened or anxious. Following are a few =
suggestions you may wish to use:=20
    a.. Create shadow pictures.=20
    b.. Tell stories.=20
    c.. Whistle or hum songs, and play "Name That Tune."=20
    d.. Play games.=20
    e.. Create an add-on story. One person starts with the background, =
the next person adds the characters, the next states what they do, the =
next creates a problem, the next complicates that problem, and finally =
the last person solves the problem and concludes the story.=20
Here are some things to keep in mind during a blackout:=20

  1.. If someone in the home depends upon electrical medical equipment, =
such as an iron lung, contact the police or fire department immediately, =
or take the patient to the hospital at once.=20
  2.. Even in a power shortage some appliances remain in service.  While =
gas furnaces cannot heat homes when there is no electricity, gas water =
heaters still make hot water. A gas oven will not work, but a gas =
range-top will (Although the 'auto-ignitor' may not, so you may have to =
'manually' start your burners.=20
  3.. Telephone lines are separate from electrical lines.=20
  4.. Most burglar alarm systems have battery backups.=20
  5.. It is suggested that you unplug appliances when there is an =
outage. When power is restored, plug them in slowly, one by one, to =
prevent an overload.=20
  6.. If the power outage is from a source other than your own home, =
turn off the main circuit breaker.=20
  7.. Remember that without lights you will not be able to see the =
various furnishings in your home. These furnishings have now become =
safety hazards, and=20



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