When You Lose Power in Oxford, MS

6/27/2022 (Permalink)

Some power outages are lengthy

If you've been in Mississippi for a minute, you know that there's always a chance of sudden severe weather situations.  We're only a few days into summer, but there's already a line of thunderstorms on deck for Oxford.  During the day, should your power go out during a storm, it's just an inconvenience to most people.

When it's knocked out at night, it can be treacherous.

Could you find your way around your home in the middle of the night?  If the answer is no, it's probably a good idea to keep a small flashlight in each bedroom so you can quickly access it when you need it!

Many power companies send text alerts to let you know when your power might be restored.  Depending on the severity of the storm that caused it, it could be awhile.  This is especially true for those in more rural locations.

That's when it gets a little tricky.

Ideally, if you've experienced a prolonged power outage in the past, you want to be prepared for next time.  This might mean having a portable generator, or even a whole-home generator.  

Generators can be a godsend when dealing with power that will be shut off for the immediate future.  They'll keep your food cold and your TV on while you wait out the electric company.   The trade-out is that portable generators, and especially whole-home generators require ongoing maintenance.

So what happens when you don't have a generator?

In short: the timer starts counting down on anything perishable in the house.  The food in your freezer should hold for around 48 hours.  Now the bad part:  If there is a lot of food in your fridge, it should keep its temperature for around four hours.  It's probably a good idea to have a large cooler and several ice packs available so the food can move to a cold cooler to make it last longer.

The next time storms blow through, we hope your power stays on.  Familiarize yourself with these tips in case it doesn't.    Stay safe out there and give us a call if you need us.  From your friends at SERVPRO of Oxford/Batesville/Clarksdale.