A major impact of wind and ice storms is power interruptions. When the power goes out, people lose their sources of light, heat, and water. When the power goes out, safety becomes a major concern.

Getting Prepared for Power Outages

Register life-sustaining electrical equipment with your utility.

Consider purchasing a small generator or know where to rent one if you use life-sustaining equipment that requires electrical power.

If you own an electric garage door opener, learn how to open it without power.

Prepare a power-outage kit. For short outages, consider having glow light sticks, flashlights, battery-powered radio, extra batteries, and a wind-up clock on hand.

Make sure you have an alternate heat source and a supply of fuel.

Have a corded or battery-powered phone available (cordless phones do not work without power).

When installing generators, follow the manufacturer's instructions and have it inspected by the utility company and the state electrical inspector.

When the Lights Go Out

If your house is the only one without power, check your fuse box or circuit breaker panel. Turn off large appliances before replacing fuses or resetting circuits.

If power is out in the neighborhood, report power outages to your utility company. In Snohomish County call the PUD at 425-783-1000. During big storms, the PUD is usually aware when outages occur. Customers are encouraged to call, however, with information about the location of a tree in the power line or if a power line is on the ground or sagging.

Do not call 9-1-1 unless you have an emergency and need a response from police, fire, or emergency medical personnel.

Once you report your outage, do not use your telephone or cell phone. Phone lines are needed for emergency use.

Disconnect all electrical heaters and appliances to reduce initial demand and protect the motors from possible low-voltage damage.

Turn switches off. Try to remember what was turned on at the time the power went out and turn the switches to those items to the off position. It's especially important to turn off anything that has a heating element, such as the electric range, an iron, or a toaster oven. Turning items off will help prevent a fire when the power is restored and also helps the PUD restore power faster.

Stay far away from downed power lines, including lines that are sagging or broken. Also, don't cut-up fallen trees that are entangled with power lines. The safest thing to do is assume that all power lines are energized with electricity, so they can be fatal and should be avoided. If ever in doubt, stay away and call PUD (Snohomish County) at 425-783-1000.

Unplug computers and other voltage-sensitive equipment to protect them against possible surges (even if you have surge protectors) when power is restored.

Conserve water, especially if you are on a well.

Keep doors, windows, and draperies closed to retain heat in your home.

Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. If the door remains closed, a fully-loaded freezer can keep foods frozen for two days.

Be extremely careful of fire hazards from candles or other flammable light sources. Never leave them unattended and keep them away from furniture, drapes, and other flammable materials.

When using kerosene heaters, gas lanterns, or a camp stove for cooking, maintain ventilation to avoid a build-up of toxic fumes.

Connect lights and appliances directly to a generator, not an existing electrical system.

Leave one light switch in the "on" position to alert you when service is restored.

For more information, call Edmonds Fire Department, Fire Prevention Division, 425-775-7720.