How to Deal with a Power Outage in Your Apartment

Dealing with Power Outages in your Apartment

Everybody experiences power outages occasionally, and thankfully, they are usually short-lived. However, there are occasions, where power outages are extended, and it’s helpful to know what to do to cope with the inconvenience and uncertainty. Many power outages are weather-related, due to thunderstorms, hurricanes, high winds, and heavy snow or ice. Other causes involve problems with equipment, upgrades to the system, overuse during peak seasons, or damage to equipment, such as a transformer being struck by a vehicle or tree limb. Power companies do their best to get service restored as quickly as possible, but when thousands of customers are involved, you will need to be patient.

Here are some tips to survive a prolonged power outage.

Check your circuit breaker

If you’re not experiencing inclement weather, check your circuit breaker. Sometimes, restoring power is as simple as reactivating a tripped breaker. A breaker can trip if you’re simultaneously running several major appliances and devices at the same time, like running your refrigerator, washing machine, indoor dehumidifiers, and blow dryer at the same time.

Check with your neighbors

See if other residents in your apartment community are experiencing a power outage as well. Report the problem to your apartment manager and you can also check your phone to see if your area is experiencing a loss of power.

Unplug electronics

Unplug your TV, computer, and any other appliances or devices that you want to protect. The rationale for doing this is that when the power comes back on, the surge could damage your appliances and devices.

Keep the refrigerator and freezer closed

Every time you open the doors to the fridge and freezer, cold air escapes. If your freezer is full, the contents should stay frozen for up to 48 hours. For refrigerated foods, if your power outages last more than two hours, pack dairy products and other easily perishable foods in ice chests. Follow the recommendations of your local health department on food safety and throw away anything that looks or smells suspect.

Keep an emergency kit

If you can’t recharge your phone, its flashlight will be of little use. Keep flashlights and batteries on hand, along with bottled water and non-perishable foods. If you live in an area prone to frequent weather events such as hurricanes or blizzards, it’s smart to invest in a battery-powered weather radio.

Report the Outage

Your power company is only aware of outages as reports come into their operation centers. Make sure your property managers know that you are experiencing an outage or report it directly to the power company. Have your electric bill handy to provide account information that will help them identify the problem and get the power restored more efficiently.

Spending time alone worrying and waiting for information may only increase your anxiety level. Hunker down with your apartment neighbors and try to make the best of it. Oftentimes, spending time with other people in the same situation can make passing the time more bearable and you could make some new friends in the process. Power outages are no fun, but with a little planning and patience, you will survive it.

Explore a Vision Community Apartment

At Vision Communities, we know that power outages happen, but we’re committed to providing you with the space where you can hunker down and wait for the power to be restored. Our floor plans are spacious and bedrooms come with spacious closet space. Our property management teams work hard to create living spaces that are headache-free and places you’ll want to come home to. We have floor plans that provide your personal space and spacious common areas for you to hang out with your roommate and friends. Our spacious, studio, 1 bedroom2 bedroom, and 3 bedroom apartment layouts provide cozy space. Check out our luxurious apartment floorplans in one of our communities and enjoy life at the VC. 

Schedule a tour today and see why Vision Communities is a great place to live. 

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Vision Companies
2935 Kenny Road
Columbus, OH 43221
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