It’s important to prepare your emergency kit and have a plan in place before high summer temperatures arrive.
NGEMC crews are on standby 24/7/365 and are committed to safely restoring power as quickly as possible; however, in extreme circumstances, restoration may take time. Being prepared makes all the difference.
Stay safe during summer heat:
- Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
- Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
- Learn to recognize the signs of heat illness.
- Check on family members, seniors and neighbors.
- Bring pets indoors when possible and ensure animals have constant access to water.
Check your emergency kits:
- One gallon of water per person per day for several days
- Several days of non-perishable food in your kits
- Battery-powered or hand-crank weather radio
- Charged battery banks for cell phones and other essential electronics
- Flashlights
- First-aid kits
- Extra batteries
- Plastic sheeting, scissors, and duct tape
- Essential medications
- Fire extinguishers
- Light, breathable clothing
- Car safety kit
Make a plan:
- Take note of emergency shelters in your area, the homes or friends or family, or other public facilities you can relocate to in the event of an extended outage during extreme heat.
- Make a plan to reach these facilities safely, including having a way to contact EMS and considering any medical needs that require power.
- Talk to elderly loved ones about their emergency plan.
Prepare your home:
- Use fans to stay cool.
- Close blinds, shades, or drapes during the day to block sunlight.
- Avoid unnecessary power use by turning off non-essential lights, appliances and electronics.
- When possible, avoid using large appliances or electronics during the hottest hours of the day.
Stay safe during storms and outages:
- Check for weather updates and alerts often.
- Keep in touch with elderly relatives, friends, and neighbors.
- Properly shelter pets and livestock from the heat and ensure they have access to water.
- In an outage situation, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed.
For more ways to prepare, visit Ready.gov.
