Are You Ready For Summer?

Summer means lots of things-barbeque's, swimming and family vacations. It's also a time of year where we see our fair share of severe storms. 2011 was a year full of severe weather in our area; with numerous power outages affecting nearly all of our insureds.

When power goes out, it can be more than an inconvenience-it can mean a loss of food or other items needing refrigeration, issues with heatstroke and other health concerns, and potential danger from malfunctioning power generators.

Make sure you and your family are prepared for potential power outages this summer. Have your emergency kit ready with first aid supplies, non perishable foods and 1 gallon of water per person, per day. If you or anyone in your family take medication or have other health issues that can be exacerbated by heat or a power outage, be sure to try and make arrangements with a family member or health care provider for continuation of treatment.

Finally, take care to avoid eating spoiled foods-be sure to reference http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Factsheets/Severe_Storms_and_Hurricanes_Guide/index.asp
for extremely helpful information on food safety in the event of a disaster or power outage, and be sure to use extreme caution if attempting to use a generator to power electrical devices.

While the hope is we never go through another summer like last in regards to the power, the reality is that we may be faced with more severe weather this year. Like with anything, though, planning and preparation are the keys to getting through the days until the power comes back!