Time to read: 4 minutes

Date: December 24, 2022

IES Texas Solar cares about the Health and Safety of our community of Solar Energy Readers.

Your IES Texas Solar Team wants to thank you for your continued readership and support of our goal to educate Texans about solar energy. 

We hope that these valuable safety tips are useful in keeping you and your family safe and warm during the coldest parts of the year.  

-Your IES Texas Solar Team

Below are a few tips to stay safe.

Extremely low temperatures present a very real problem for the Texas power grid. With cold snaps and freezing temperatures on the way, rolling blackouts and power outages similar to February of 2021’s Winter Storm Uri could be closer than Texans realize. In fact, experts are saying that the grid is still very vulnerable to extremely low temperatures. While several things have been done to improve the grid, things like necessary repairs to natural gas systems are not up to date. The demand for power to heat homes is very likely to increase strain on the grid. With low temperatures on the horizon, you need to be prepared.

With that in mind, we’ve put together a checklist for you to use in order to keep you and your family safe in the event of a winter power outage. 

PRE-POWER OUTAGE CHECKLIST

• Keep an eye on the weather!

This one seems like a no-brainer, but watching the forecasts for low temperatures can help you to know what to expect. You can also keep an eye on the power demand placed on the grid through the ERCOT website.  

• Stock up!

Make sure that you stock up on water, food, and medicine. Be sure to store enough water to give each person one gallon of water per day. With medicine, make sure that you have your prescription medications filled and keep a one-month supply of other medications on hand. When stocking up on food, purchase non-perishables. Also stock up on flashlights, battery-powered lanterns, a battery-powered radio, and batteries. 

• Install a generator if possible

Having a backup generator can keep you from being out of power at all. If possible, install a home standby generator. This is especially important if you have medical equipment that needs power such as CPAP machines or ways to refrigerate insulin and other temperature-sensitive medications.   

DURING A POWER OUTAGE CHECKLIST

• Check for boil water notices

In many cases, power outages will cause cities to issue a boil water notice. If you do not have bottled water but have running water from the tap, be sure that you constantly check to see if your city is under a boil water notice. If so, most sources recommend boiling water for a minimum of two minutes at a rolling boil before using it for drinking.

• Here are some tips to follow when boiling water
  • Fill a pot with water
  • Heat water until bubbles rise to the surface
  • Once the water reaches a rolling boil, allow it to boil for a full two minutes
  • Turn off heat and allow water to cool
  • Pour water into a clean container and cover for storage

• Use your phone only when absolutely necessary

Your phone is one of your most essential tools during a power outage. Only use it when you need to make important calls or to check on things like boil water notices, news on the power outage, or to reference something you need to get through the outage. If you need to charge it, use your car if necessary. You can also use a battery bank if you have one. 

• Check your windows and doors small openings

Blocking small openings around your windows and doors can help you keep the cold out. By blocking these openings, you are able to help your home retain heat in your home during a blackout caused by low temperatures. 

• Unplug things that are not in use

Once the power returns, the sudden surge of electricity may damage the items that you have plugged in. To keep them safe, go through your home and unplug all things that are not being used. 

• Use flashlights and battery-powered lanterns

Using things like candles, gasoline, or propane-powered devices to heat your home is extremely dangerous. Using these can cause carbon monoxide poisoning and start fires. Use flashlights and battery-powered lanterns to light your home in the event of a power outage. To better illuminate a room and save on bigger lighting sources, you can place a light next to a gallon of water.

ONCE THE POWER OUTAGE IS OVER…

• Check to see if boil water notices have been lifted

In many cases, if there was a boil water notice issued due to power outages, then it may take just a bit longer for the water to be drinkable again. Check to see if your boil water notices were lifted. Keep boiling your water for 10-minutes as instructed until the notice has been lifted. There are some helpful websites for Texas water sources like Is Your Tap Water Safe that lets you check your area for water advisories. 

• Plug your appliances back in

Now that your power is back on, it is safe to plug your devices and appliances back in.

• Clean out your kitchen

It’s definitely worth checking to see if anything in your refrigerator and freezer went bad during the outage. This is especially important to check for when you’ve been without power for an extended period of time. Dispose of any food that was spoiled during the blackouts. 

While this list covers the main necessities to follow during rolling blackouts in order to keep you and your family safe, it is worth mentioning that there are other options available to you. You can keep your home running by installing solar panels with backup batteries and a Generac® generator in order to make sure that even when blackouts occur, regardless of whether it lasts for a couple of hours or a couple of weeks, you never have to worry about being alone in the dark.

If you are considering switching to solar for your home or business, or if you have questions about your system, reach out to us by going to our website, iestxsolar.com, or by giving us a call at (855) 447-6527.

Sources:

https://www.readysouthtexas.gov/Know-Your-Risks/Natural-Hazards/Winter-Weather#240052402-during

https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/injured-skin/burns/prevent-treat-frostbite#:~:text=If%20you%20experience%20symptoms%20of%20frostbite%2C%20try%20to,turn%20gray%2C%20go%20to%20an%20emergency%20room%20immediately