I was talking with a friend the other day who starting complaining to me about the heat. She said in a rather exasperated voice “It’s just too hot to go anywhere, do anything.” I agreed, but we’re in the desert of Arizona. We should expect it to be hot in July. The real fact of the matter is temperatures are going up in all the major cities of the world; Arizona included.

California, St. Louis and New York experienced record temperatures last week. Power outages caused deadly blackouts. Unfortunately, blackouts are inevitable as the demand for energy outgrows the ability of energy companies to produce more. READ MORE…

Here in Arizona we often experience “Brownouts” which are “sags” in the voltage power coming in to the house or “Rolling Blackouts” which can be uncomfortable in our extreme heat. Monsoon season also contributes to outages. Lightening strikes, high winds and flood waters can cause problems. If the lights are out for a couple hours or a couple of days, are you prepared?

In his article “What if the electricity goes off,” Michael Hackleman reminds us what is important in the home. There are four critical loads in a home affected by a blackout: lighting, heating, refrigeration, and the water system.

• Lighting. Lighting is essential for overall safety, particularly at night. Fortunately, it need not be electric. Candles, flashlights, and kerosene lanterns are traditional lighting sources for blackouts. Be careful with kerosene lanterns inside the home because of incidents with fumes and fire danger. Preparation for a blackout requires stockpiling matches, candles, batteries, or fuel for lanterns. Don’t forget to put this stuff where you can find it in the dark!

• Refrigeration. A refrigerator will keep things cool for a long time after power is interrupted. From the beginning, minimize the frequency and duration of opening its door to preserve its cool! As the blackout continues, consume the more perishable items first. Even a small stockpile of canned or freeze-dried foods will prove helpful during a blackout. Unless you’ve arranged for a way to heat and cook food, ensure that your supply is edible “as is,” or with simple re-hydrating with water.

• Water system. Most community water systems are designed to work for some time following a blackout, powered with huge standby generators. Private water systems built around streams, springs, and wells that use electric pumps will quit working as soon as the electricity goes off. The pressure tank will still deliver some water, so immediately fill handy containers (bottles, buckets, bowls, bathtub, etc.) before this supply is depleted. The standard household water heater is another source of 30-50 gallons of water. How will you handle toilet, shower, and sink during a blackout?

Some forethought and planning will help with these processes during an extended blackout. READ MORE…

SRP reminds us to keep important phone numbers, special needs items for infants and elderly and disabled family members readily available.

Don’t forget to look in on elderly neighbors and family members. Storms can make them confused and anxious. With a little planning and preparation power outages can be the perfect time to come together as a family. Enjoy a night by the pool, barbecue on the grill, play a board game or do what you’ve been meaning to do for weeks….Talk to each other, and enjoy each others company.

-Kelli Grant