Safety
AROUND YOUR HOME

Protect your home when the power goes off!

Bill Campbell

When I was growing up in western Iowa, my family lived on the edge of a small town. Unfortunately, that edge of town was also on the end of the system of power lines supplying electricity. For those of you who haven't experienced this arrangement, this means anytime the power went off anywhere in town it included us. This also meant that widespread power outages caused by winter ice storms could result in several days without electricity at our house.

Consequently, I have memories of several wintertime adventures when the six members of my family would move into the kitchen for several days. Mom always kept loaves of bread dough in the freezer so she could bake in our gas oven and provide zone heating in the kitchen. We were comfortable and, boy, did the house smell good! I'm sure the stock prices for Eveready Battery Company soared each time Mom gave four kids flashlights during these minor emergencies.

We were lucky; we lived in town where the water system still worked. Though today, rural water districts reach some of the Illinois countryside and can supply water when the power is out, there may still be those of you who would be without water and/or heat during these emergencies. You should protect yourself and your home if you expect long-term outages in the winter.

First, protect yourself by making sure you have an adequate supply of drinking water for the duration of the outage. Each person in your home will drink approximately 1 gallon of water per day. Use clean plastic beverage containers to store water if you expect an approaching storm to cause problems. Remember that water you consume must also be eliminated from your body. Toilets use 3-7 gallons per flush. You may want to consider using a portable camping toilet if you expect an extended period without water.

Long periods without power and with frigid temperatures may cause portions of your home to reach freezing temperatures. Draining your water lines may be the only way to prevent broken pipes and serious damage when the flow is restored. Close the main water valve and open the lowest faucet in your house to drain as much water as possible from the system. You can also use the plastic beverage containers to collect this drinkable water as you drain your pipes.

Toilets and drain traps in sinks, showers, and tubs still will contain water and need to be protected from freezing. There are a variety of antifreeze products for recreational vehicles that will protect these locations from freezing and breaking pipes.

These same pipe-protection procedures should be followed if you are planning an extended trip away from home during the winter months. Returning home to frozen pipes and the resulting water damage would ruin any wintertime trip. This is especially important to all of you Illinois snowbirds who migrate to warmer climates as temperatures drop.

I have a couple of publications about winter survival and emergency power systems if you would like more information. For copies, contact the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension unit office in your county and ask them to contact me. Additional information can be obtained from your electric cooperative.

Emergency outage supplies

Have an emergency kit prepared for winter outages. Include the following items:

• Food that needs no cooking or refrigeration.

• Emergency water supply.

• Battery operated radio and flashlight, with plenty of fresh batteries.

• Candles, lantern, camp stove and matches.

• Extra blankets and sleeping bags.

• First aid kit and fire extinguisher.

• Emergency phone numbers.

Bill Campbell is an Extension Educator, Farm Systems, at the Springfield Extension Center, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Illinois. You can write to Campbell in care of Illinois Country Living, P.O. Box 3787, Springfield, IL 62708. Telephone: 217-782-6515. E-Mail: campbellw@idea.ag.uiuc.edu

14 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING • DECEMBER 1996