02/19/2021
7 Recovery safety tips
As we look toward beginning the recovery process, we hope the following tips will help.
1. Ramp up slowly. As you regain power, gradually plug in, and turn on only essentials to lower your impact on the electric grid.
2. Know where your water shutoff valve is. After power has been restored and your home begins warming up, any cracked pipes could flood your home. Turn water off at the main valve, which is usually located under a metal lid by your curb.
3. When in doubt, throw it out. Discard perishable food that has been exposed to temperatures 40 degrees or higher for two hours or more.
4. Consult your doctor. Certain medications need to be kept refrigerated. If you lost power, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking your medicine.
5. Don't have power yet? Report your outage to your local utility, they may not know that it is out and your neighbors may not have made a report either. Also, prevent carbon monoxide poisoning by using generators, charcoal grills, and fossil fuels only outdoors and in a well-ventilated area.
6. Help is available. For shelters, warming centers or community assistance programs, call 211 in most areas of Texas.
7. Boil water before use. Millions of Texans are under a boil water notice. Faucet water needs to be boiled first to destroy potential bacteria before it is safe for you or your pets to consume. It is better to be safe and boil because many water authorities do not know the extent of damage to underground delivery systems at this point.
We hope this helps!