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Power has been restored to all electric cooperative member-consumers, following the Dec. 11 ice storm. If you are experiencing a power outage, please report it to your local electric cooperative.

As Iowa enters the winter season the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives (IAEC) encourages member-consumers to be prepared with these tips...

Before a storm hits, gather these items: flashlight and extra batteries; battery-powered weather radio and portable radio to receive emergency information; plenty of water – the American Red Cross suggests one gallon per person per day; high-energy foods that don’t require refrigeration or cooking, such as dried fruit, nuts, granola bars, cereals and canned goods; a non-electric can opener; a week’s worth of medicines; first-aid supplies; individually wrapped moist wipes for hand cleaning; extra baby items; sleeping bags, blankets and pillows; books and games to keep kids occupied; ABC-type fire extinguisher; plenty of food and water (and shelter) for pets.

In addition, IAEC advises completing these tasks: (1) If a family member relies on life-support equipment, make sure your electric cooperative is aware of this and possible shelter options are explored. (2) Make sure a fuel-burning space heater and/or wood stove operates properly – and that you have enough fuel on hand. (3) Check the batteries in – and test – all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in your home. If any of the devices are 10 years old, replace them. (4) If you have an electric garage door opener, it won’t work during a power outage, so make sure you know how to open the door manually.

Power Outages:  If a power outage occurs, the IAEC recommends:

• Calling your local electric cooperative  to report the outage – even if you think a neighbor already has done so.

• Turning off the stove, oven and other appliances (except the refrigerator and freezer, unless they’re empty) to prevent heavy startup loads that could cause secondary blackouts when power is restored.

• Unplugging sensitive electronic equipment such as computers, TVs and other home entertainment equipment to avoid damage to them when power is restored.

• Keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed to prevent food from spoiling.

• Leaving one light turned on, so you’ll know when the power is restored.

• Selecting a room on the warm side of the house away from prevailing winds to wait out the storm.

• Keeping curtains and exterior doors closed.

• Wearing layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Remove layers to avoid overheating, perspiration and the resulting chills.

• If you have an unvented, fuel-burning space heater, placing it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface—not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Cross-ventilate by opening a window an inch on each side of the room; it’s better to let some cold air in than to run the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Also, never leave a space heater unattended or within the reach of children or pets – and turn it off when you leave the room or go to bed.

• If temperatures fall to near freezing in your home, open all faucets slightly so they drip. This minimal water flow will help prevent pipes from freezing.

• Closing off as many rooms as possible, unless you are using an unvented, fuel-burning space heater. Then you should keep the doors open to the rest of the house, to help prevent pollutant and carbon monoxide buildup.

• Do not use your stove, oven, cooktop, outdoor grill, camping stove or any other fuel-, charcoal- or wood-burning cooking equipment to try to produce usable heat inside your home. The carbon monoxide these devices produce could be fatal within in a matter of minutes.

• Using your fireplace if you have one. Otherwise, make sure the flue is closed.

• Don’t use candles for lighting; they can cause a fire. Use a flashlight or battery-powered camping lantern instead.
Also, keep these things in mind when using a portable generator:

• Read the manufacturer’s instructions and learn how to operate and shut off your generator before you need to use it.

• Make sure the extension cord you use is in good shape and rated for a load greater than the total wattage of all connected appliances and other devices (125 volts x amps = watts).

• Keep the generator dry, and don’t operate it indoors or in an enclosed or partially enclosed area such as a garage or porch. Generators quickly can produce high levels of deadly carbon monoxide gas.

• Keep children and pets away from the generator when it’s running. 

• Practice power management. For example, when the power is out for several hours or longer, use the generator to run the refrigerator every few hours so food won’t spoil – instead of just powering lights in your home all day long.

• Give your generator several breaks during the day. Most portable generators aren’t designed to run 24/7, so shut down your unit several times a day to let it cool down.

• Always switch the engine off and allow it to cool before adding fuel in a well-ventilated area. Take care not to contaminate the fuel tank with dirt or water.

• Turn off the generator’s circuit breaker before starting, so the load doesn’t draw current until the generator is running smoothly. Turn off the breaker before stopping the generator.

• Test the ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) on the generator every time you fire up the engine.