Wood-Ridge Emergency Management
Paul Dahl
wroem@njwoodridge.org
Back
Power Outages & Home Safety
IF THE POWER GOES OUT: |
| Check your fuse or breaker box for blown fuses or tripped circuits. If they are okay, see if neighbors are without power. |
Call your utility immediately. You may be asked for information, or hear a message if the situation has already been reported.
9-1-1 is for reporting emergencies ONLY. (click here for the utility numbers) |
| Turn off all electrical equipment to prevent overloading the system when power is restored. |
| Turn on a porch light and one inside light so you and utility crews will know when service is restored. |
| Listen to the radio (battery-powered) for updates on major electrical outages. |
| If your neighbors' power comes back on, but yours does not, call your utility company again. |
EMERGENCY LIGHTING
Flashlights: Each person should have their own flashlight. Store extra bulbs and batteries.
Light-sticks: Self-contained chemical lights that are activated by bending. Work well as night-lights for children.
Candles: Can be dangerous
DOWNED UTILITY LINES |
If you see any wire lying on the ground (or dangling in the air) don't touch it with anything - stay back. Call your utility company immediately. Keep kids and pets away. |
NEVER touch a downed wire. Electricity can travel through your body causing serious injury or death. If you see a downed line take these precautions:
-
Never touch metal (like fences or guard rails) that have a wire laying on it. It may be electrified.
|
Who to call to report a power outage in Bergen County
PSE&G - 1-800-436-7734
Rockland Electric - 1-877-434-4100
Remember: Utility crews may have to remove limbs, replace parts, close circuit breakers. The more serious the problem, the longer it will take to restore customer service.
Important Information when Reporting a Power Outage
* Name, address and cross street
* Time of outage
* Are lights out, flickering or dim?
* Are the neighbors' lights out?
* Have any wires fallen to the ground?
* Tree limbs on lines?
* Utility pole number?
| STAYING WARM: |
Outages can occur at any time of year, but during cold weather the temperature inside your home can drop rapidly. Tips for staying warm:
- Save Body Heat - Wear a hat, even while sleeping. Wear loose layers of clothing to trap body heat. Use blankets.
- Lock in Home Heat - Pick one room (on a sunny side of the house) and close it off to keep the heat in.
|
HOUSEHOLD TIPS: |
| Your Freezer will keep food frozen during an outage for about two days if it's full; one day if it's less than half-full. Don't open the door. |
| Protect your pipes: If the power is out and the weather is freezing, keep a steady drip of cold water on an inside faucet and wrap pipes to prevent damage. |
| Automatic Garage Door Openers won't work if the power is out. Check to see if you have a manual override. |
| Home Computers: Install a surge protector (not just a power strip) to protect your computer from power surges. |
| Charcoal or propane grills: NEVER use a cooking device designed for outdoors inside the home. They produce carbon monoxide which can be deadly. |
| Cordless phones won't work if the power is out. Have a backup phone that does not need electricity to work. |
Generators: Never connect a home generator to a wall outlet. If used incorrectly, portable or auxiliary generators used for backup power at home can ruin your electrical system and start a fire.
They can also feed electricity back into the utility system. This is very dangerous for crews repairing lines.
Home generators should be installed by a licensed electrical contractor. Generators installed in accordance with electrical safety codes, require an electrical permit and an electrical inspection.
Improperly installed or improperly used generators pose a serious - sometimes fatal - risk to homeowners and utility workers. |
Emergency Kit Check List
* Flashlights or chemical light-sticks
* Battery-powered radio
* Paper plates/ plastic utensils
* Manual can opener
* Bottled drinking water
* First aid kit
* Extra batteries
* Battery or wind-up alarm clock
Back |
