By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — For those who rely on electricity to provide their home heating, power outages during Aroostook winters can be a chilling (and potentially dangerous) experience for unprepared individuals.
Deputy Director of Aroostook County Emergency Management Agency Darren Woods offered a list of suggested items residents will want to keep on hand to stay warm and safe during winter power outages, including:
• sleeping bags and extra blankets;
• portable, battery-powered or wind-up radio;
• flashlight with extra batteries;
• first aid kit;
• three-day supply of nonperishable food; and
• three-day supply of water (one gallon per person, per day).
Woods also suggested that residents obtain a back-up means of power for home heating and cooking, especially considering the freezing nature of Aroostook County’s winters. For example, if a residence doesn’t have a wood stove for home heating and cooking, they should look to have a means of back-up power installed in their home by a professional. They should also pay attention to what’s going on in their community during any type of emergency.
“Most of the time, Maine Public Service and the Maine Department of Transportation are very good at getting everything back on and opened up, so paying attention to what’s going on and staying informed can help people prepared,” Woods explained.
Woods also stressed the importance of not running a generator inside a residence, attached garage or basement as carbon monoxide poisoning can kill individuals improperly running gas-powered equipment.
For more tips on preparing for power outages, winter weather or other emergency situations, visit ACEMA’s website at www.aroostookema.com
