When severe weather is on its way, it can be hard to remember all the things you can do to be ready and protect your home. Our handy thunder storm safety checklist can help keep your electrical stuff in order:
- Turn your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings the day before the storm to keep food fresh in the event of a power outage.
- Remove outside antennas and satellite dishes, being careful to look up for power lines before you get started. Remember, if you can't avoid a power line, don't do the work. Antennas can be replaced—it's not worth the risk.
- Turn off or unplug any unnecessary electrical equipment, especially sensitive electronics such as computers and televisions.
- Back up your computer files. If you have a laptop, be sure the battery is fully charged.
- Check that emergency equipment such as flashlights, battery-operated radios and backup generators are in working order. Check what size batteries your equipment uses, and try to keep extra batteries on hand.
- Turn off all swimming pool pumps and filters and wrap them in waterproof materials. This protects them from electrical damage and debris.
- If someone in your home depends on continuously operating electric-powered medical equipment, make arrangements for backup power. If you can, you might want to go somewhere outside of the storm area.