In Maine heavy snow, followed by freezing rain, caused over 20,000 households to go without power for most of the day yesterday. Current weather predictions for the area show that another winter storm may be on its way. It's not uncommon for a home to lose power due to heavy snow or lightning.
What should you do for your home business when faced with a power outage due to a storm?
The most important thing you can do to protect your home business from loss when the power goes out is to make sure that all of your computers and other electrical equipment are protected by surge protectors. The second most important thing is to make sure that all of your data is backed up regularly. The last thing that you need as a result of a power outage is a fried hard drive that takes all of your business data with it.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has some specific advice about food safety if your refrigerator should go out. Do you know how long food can stay in the refrigerator without spoiling? The guidelines here can help you and your family avoid food poisoning. Filling a cooler with ice or snow can help preserve some of the perishable items.
Another storm preparation measure that every household should take is to have high-powered battery-operatied flashlights on hand for use during a power outage. A good rule of thumb is to have at least one flashlight for every member of the family. Candles may easily be knocked over and could start a fire, so they should not be used as a light source during power outages.
If the power is out in your area, it is likely that the kids will be home from school. There are several ways to entertain your kids that don't require power:
- Take turns telling stories.
- Have the kids color or draw.
- Break out the board games.
Also, if the storm has died down and there is snow on the ground, then you may allow your children to go out briefly and play in the snow.
What can you do about all of those work projects from your business? Well, if you depend on electricity to complete them (such as using a computer), then there really may not be much that you can do. You may be able to do some manual paper work or decluttering of your home office. If your phone still works, it may be a good idea to phone key clients and let them know that you are in the midst of a power outage and their project may be late. Most clients will understand that these are circumstances beyond your control.
What about you? Has this happened to you? Have you been caught in a power outage and unable to work? How did you cope without power?
Leave a comment and let us know.
Image courtesy of Your3dsource.com.
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