Novato Asks: How Do You Prepare for an Extended Power Outage?

The following is a news release from Novato Emergency Management:

This month’s tip is to make sure that basic needs in your household can be met during a power outage.

We count on electricity for heat, food, water and medical needs. Many gas appliances need electricity to run. A power outage is an emergency that often follows another emergency—like an earthquake, fire or winter storm—making it even more important to be prepared in advance.

Remember, community preparedness starts at home. If you know that your family is prepared at home, you will be better able to help others in your community.

Below is a list of things you can do to prepare for a disaster. Choose at least one, and complete it:

• Have flashlights ready in an easily accessible place and check batteries in flashlights and radios.
• Acquire and learn how to use a portable generator.
• Create a power outage plan – decide what you can do before, during and after a power outage to minimize the effect on your household.

Get the details for each of the above here or check out the YouTube video.

Novato and Marin County residents:

Please register your phone numbers and e-mail addresses at www.alertmarin.org. This will allow you to receive public safety alerts by phone, text and e-mail for your neighborhood, even when you are not home.

To ensure you receive emergency messages and information from both the Novato Police and Fire Departments, register with www.nixle.com. This free service will promptly deliver timely info to your e-mail and smart devices.

Check out our free, two-hour preparedness course Get Ready - by calling the Novato Police Department at 415-897-4361 as well as Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training - which is an 18-hour course that takes you beyond the basics offered in Get Ready. For more information, go towww.readymarin.org.