Plan ahead The first thing to do is to "plan ahead". There are many things a consumer of electric power can do to prepare for an electrical outage or other emergency situation.

These actions include:

	Have a take-shelter plan in case of a severe storm or tornado warning
	Keep an emergency kit with a flashlight, first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, and battery operated radio
	Store containers of fresh water for drinking, cooking and washing
	If somebody in your house uses electrical life-support equipment, call Detroit Edison to set up a restoration priority. If the device cannot be operated by battery or manually, make sure you have a backup power supply

Cooking Safety In case the power fails, plan to use alternative cooking devices in accordance with manufacturer's instructions Never use open flames or grills indoors

Lighting Safety Have plenty of flashlights and extra batteries on hand in case of a power outage Do not use candles for emergency lighting Protect Your Food Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. A well insulated refrigerator will keep food in the safe temperature (below 40 degrees) for about 12 hours. A well-filled freezer keeps for two days. Insulate the freezer with newspapers, rugs or blankets to keep it cold even longer. See the RED CROSS food safety tips and chart for what foods should be discarded and what foods can be kept. (requires Acrobat Reader) Know the safe way to use a portable generator. Use a generator to run lights, refrigerators, sump pumps, furnace blowers and other important items until your power is back. follow the manufacturer's instructions and make sure the generator is properly installed and operated.

You should also do the following when operating a generator.

	Always read and follow the manufacturer's instructions and guidelines
	Only use a generator or other fuel-powered machines outside the home. Carbon monoxide fumes, released by a generator, are odorless and can quickly overwhelm you
	Use the appropriate size and type power cords to carry the electric load. Overloaded cords can overheat and cause fires
	Never run cords under rugs or carpets where heat might build up or a damaged cord may go unnoticed
	Never connect generators to another power source such as power lines. The reverse flow of electricity or "backfeed" can electrocute an unsuspecting utility worker
	Make sure you are standing in a dry place and that your hands are dry when you operate the generator
	Turn off the main power to your home before starting up the generator
	Once it is running, turn appliances and lights on one at a time to avoid an overload

Protect Your Appliances

During any low voltage situation, some appliances should be shut off. Unplug sensitive appliances, like your televisions and computers, and appliances that have motors, like your refrigerator or air conditioners.

They can be damaged by low voltage. Incandescent lights can be left on. When they return to their normal brightness, it is okay to turn everything back on.

Some appliances with surge protection reset automatically when the power returns to normal. If they don't, that does not mean they've been damaged. You may simply have to reset a circuit breaker, replace a fuse or press a reset button.