Severe weather seems to be all around us these days, with headlines about high winds, local flooding, and paths of destruction making their way into newscasts here in Maine and throughout the country.
The key to protecting your family in the event of severe weather is to plan ahead! Here are seven suggestions for how to do that in your propane-powered home.
Work with your family to make an emergency preparedness plan – for tips on how to do write one, see the ready.gov website. Don’t forget your pets, either.
If severe weather is forecast,
Make sure you have enough propane gas to last for at least a week after the storm ends in case there are road closures
Listen to your local authorities for instructions regarding local safety and evacuations
If you think that any of your propane appliances have been damaged by weather or flooding, have them tested by a professional before attempting to use them. And always remember: If you shut down your gas supply, even temporarily, the law requires you to contact a licensed professional to restart you system.
To prevent food spoilage, keep on hand:
Styrofoam coolers for temporary food storage
Ice or dry ice
A digital thermometer to check the internal temperatures of food to ensure they are cold enough to use safely
You can also consider installing a propane stand-by generator (see #7 below) to keep power coming to your refrigerator and freezer.
NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) is a great source for storm tracking and weather updates:
Keep at least a half tank of gas in your car for emergency errands, and keep more on hand in gasoline-safe containers; gas supply may be limited during an outage.
Consider investing in a propane-powered backup generator. Make sure that:
It is rated for the power you think you’ll need
You know how to operate it safely
You run it throughout the winter to keep parts lubricated and to ensure it is in working order
You have enough propane to run it for at least a week
When severe weather is forecast, be sure you have enough propane for at least a week in the event of an outage – if you don’t, schedule a propane delivery. And don’t forget: if your propane-powered system is shut down for any reason – including a power outage – you must, by law, have it turned back on by a licensed professional! Contact Murray-Heutz Oil & Propane today for details.
