Preparedness Kit

• Drinking water and food (enough for 3 days)
• Flashlights
• Radio
• Batteries
• Blankets, pillows and clothing
• Cellphone and chargers
• Cash and credit cards
• Basic first-aid supplies
• Medications
• Basic toiletries
• Baby supplies
• Pet food and supplies
• Important documents and phone numbers

Keep Food Safe

• Keep refrigerator at 40° or below. Freeze items like fresh meat and poultry that you won't use immediately.
• Keep freezer set to 0° or below. Group frozen foods to help items stay colder longer.
• If you anticipate an extended power outage, buy dry ice or block ice to keep the fridge and/or freezer cold.

• Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed! If the doors stay closed during the length of the outage:
• A full freezer will hold its temperature for 48 hours.
• A refrigerator will keep food safe for four hours.

• Check the temperature inside your refrigerator and freezer.
• If the temperatures are safe, the food should be safe to eat.

• Meat, poultry or seafood products
• Milk, yogurt and other dairy products
• Cooked or sliced produce
• Eggs and egg products
• Soft and shredded cheese
• Opened baby formula
• Dough and cooked pasta

What Should I Do?

• Don't panic! Check your home's breaker panel (and any outdoor disconnects) to make sure the outage is not due to a tripped breaker.
• If you determine the problem is outside your home, call Roseau Electric at 888-847-8840.
• Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Food should keep for up to 48 hours in a freezer if the door remains closed. If the outage persists, add block or dry ice or cover your refrigerator or freezer with a blanket, or make arrangements to store food at another location.
• Turn off or unplug all electrical appliances that were on when the power went off, especially heat pumps, air conditioners or electric heat. This will help protect electrical equipment that could be damaged by electrical surges. Leave a light on so you know when your power is restored. Once power has been restored, slowly turn on appliances and equipment one at a time.
• If you see downed or damaged power lines, stay back and call Roseau Electric immediately at 888-847-8840.
• NEVER WIRE A PORTABLE GENERATOR DIRECTLY INTO YOUR ELECTRICAL PANEL! If not used correctly, portable generators can cause fatal accidents involving lineworkers and others near power lines.