 When lightning strikes, it’s time to keep the fridge shut, plug in a vintage phone and write a letter to your auntie. |
Specifically, that number reflects Dominion customers in Charlottesville and Albemarle who were affected by storm-related power outages in August 2006. Clearly, this time of year is high season for thunder crashing, lightning flashing and hard drives getting fried. What should you do to protect your house when the storms roll through?
*Keep an appliance thermometer in your fridge so you can monitor the temperature in case the power stays out for more than a few hours. You’re aiming for a temperature of less than 40 degrees to keep that cottage cheese edible.
*Don’t open the doors of the fridge or freezer if you can help it. In general, a half-full freezer will stay frozen without power for about one day.
*Stock a flashlight and fresh batteries in a place where you can find it. How about a strip of glow-in-the-dark tape around the flashlight handle?
*Keep your computer plugged into a surge protector, and if the power goes out, unplug everything and revive the lost art of written correspondence.
*Even if it’s just stuffed in a closet somewhere, a noncordless phone is a smart thing to own. You won’t mind the curly cord when it’s connecting you to help during an emergency.
*If your water supply depends on an electric pump, stash some bottled drinking water. Beer only goes so far.
