Prepare for Winter Weather Power Outages at Home and the Office

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Prepare for Winter Weather Power Outages at Home
and the Office

• Tips to Stay Powered Up All Winter

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Power Up for Winter Weather

• Unpredictable weather is nothing new, despite the
  best efforts of forecasters. However, extreme
  weather is fast becoming the norm in many areas.
  Its more important than ever to prepare in
  advance for the worst that winter can throw your
  way, with plenty of industrial batteries,
  flashlights, and uninterruptible power sources.
• Record snowfalls pile up each winter, often
  followed by record snowmelt and floods that can
  cut off power and threaten your safety and
  comfort. Tornadoes and other wind events are
  equally devastating, and earthquakes may leave
  homes and businesses cut off any time of year.
• Be ready to survive an unexpected weather event
  by taking a few key steps to ensure a consistent
  power source and cope with emergencies.

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Power at Home

• Radio broadcasts provide a lifeline during
  emergencies, with updates about weather events,
  road closures, and power repairs. Stay connected
  to emergency information with a battery-powered
  portable radio. Stock up on a good supply of
  rechargeable batteries in various sizes, to fit
  more than one radio.
• Dont forget to place a flashlight in every room,
  so each member of the family can safely see
  obstacles or dangers until power returns, and
  have extra rechargeable batteries handy for
  flashlights, too. Some plug-in flashlights can be
  kept in a socket for continuous charging, ready
  for use whenever needed.
• Despite a storm or other local problem, dont
  assume you have lost all power until you check
  circuit breakers. If one has been tripped, its a
  simple solution, in case the power supply is
  still operating.

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Home Emergency Basics

• At home, the refrigerator protects perishable
  food and keeps your family fed, but what if the
  power goes out? Avoid opening the fridge and set
  to the coldest temperature (be sure to raise
  temps again when power returns). This step can
  keep your refrigerator cold for about 24 hours,
  and longer for a full freezer.
• Survival in winter may depend on a source of
  heat. If you have a wood-burning stove or
  fireplace, stock an extra supply of wood, and
  plan to spend most of your time in that warm
  roomjust be careful to adequately ventilate the
  area.
• A battery-operated home heater can be a small but
  powerful friend in case of winter power cuts.
  Conserve heat with a well-insulated house and
  weather stripping.
• If you lack an uninterruptible power supply at
  home, be sure to unplug electronics, like
  computers, VCRs and TVs, and even a microwave
  oven. This step will protect them from possible
  damage if a surge occurs when power is restored.

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Power at the Office

• Loss of power at the office can have long-lasting
  consequences if data is lost, sensitive
  electronics are damaged, or the safety of staff
  is threatened.
• Whether power is interrupted by storms,
  earthquakes, or other problems affecting area
  utilities, be prepared to seamlessly continue
  operating, or at least preserve valuable assets
  until power is fully restored.
• Avoid sudden loss of power by ensuring a smooth
  transition to a reliable temporary source of
  network-grade power as soon as an outage occurs.
  Keep computer equipment, phone systems, and even
  life-sustaining medical equipment functioning,
  with industrial grade replacement batteries and
  uninterruptible power sources, like the SMT 1500
  UPS, also known as a Smart UPS.

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Emergency Office Lighting

• Power is essential to so many vital functions,
  lighting among them. Be sure to have suitable,
  alternate light sources ready in case of power
  loss at the office. Many emergency events, such
  as earthquakes, hit with little or no warning,
  leaving no time to run for portable, temporary
  lighting.
• Ideally, each employee, or at least each
  department, should be equipped with a durable
  flashlight, like an Energizer hard case model
  with shatterproof lens, that will stand up to
  hard knocks and a potentially unstable
  environment.
• Stock up on industrial flashlights suitable for
  your office setting, from cubicle to work bench.
  Choose an Energizer hard case flashlight with
  swivel to allow for hands-free lighting and
  swivel head to direct light to specific
  locations, or a hard case flashlight lantern to
  illuminate a large outdoor job.

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Proceed with Caution

• Once you have stabilized indoor systems after a
  power outage, you may be tempted to check outdoor
  connections, whether at home or office.
• Use extreme caution in any environment that has
  been disrupted. Always assume that a loose power
  lineor anything resembling oneis a live,
  electrified line, and keep away from it. Do not
  touch anything connected to the line, or any
  standing water that it is touching.
• Inform and educate family members and employees
  to use the same degree of caution, and
  immediately contact local power authorities to
  report the dangerous loose wire.

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Be Prepared with Batteries

• Be prepared for a power outage of unknown
  duration with enough commercial grade batteries
  to keep all equipment operating.
• If your workplace depends on battery-operated
  equipment, from portable lights to medical
  devices, you need a good supply of industrial
  batteries in varied sizes. Choose one designed
  and manufactured to perform in extremes of
  temperature, a likely prospect in freezing winter
  storms. The Duracell Procell industrial alkaline
  is one of several options offered at low
  wholesale prices on the TES website.
• Buying wholesale batteries provides significant
  savings, and Duracells have been tested to last
  through as much as seven years of storage.

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Survive Safely at Home or Office

• Rule number one keep at least a gallon of
  drinking water per person per day on hand. In the
  worst circumstances, a severe winter freeze can
  mean frozen pipes, and no water. Use these
  time-tested tricks to avoid running out of water
  when things get tough
• Insulate indoor pipes to keep them from freezing.
  
• Leave faucets dripping slightly to keep water
  moving.
• If pipes freeze, open cabinet doors to allow any
  warm air to circulate around pipes.
• If power is out as well, use a portable,
  battery-operated heater directed toward pipes to
  help thaw frozen areas. If power is still
  working, use an electric hair dryer to thaw.
  Remember to remove any hazardous materials from
  the area and open all faucets first.
• Preparation for the inconveniences and hazards of
  winter weather is essential. Keep everyone safe
  at home or work, with everything you need to
  maintain uninterruptible power.

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ABOUT TES

• Telecom Electric Supply Company, or TES, is a
  wholesale electrical and telecommunications
  supplier. Since 1985, TES has supplied industrial
  replacement batteries and uninterruptible power
  sources, Duracell flashlights, lithium batteries,
  and other items needed to stay safe at the
  office, medical facility, or home.
• Stock up on emergency power supplies at
• http//www.tes.com, or call for more information
  at 1-800-821-9066.