One Year After: Massive Power Outages Remind Us To Prepare For The Unexpected

WASHINGTON, Tuesday, August 10, 2004 — This week marks the one-year anniversary of the massive man-made power outage that crippled dozens of cities in seven states and eastern Canada, affecting more than 50 million people. Blackouts occur more frequently during the summer when power usage is at its peak. The American Red Cross urges people to prepare now for unexpected events, especially during this time of year, when wildfires, hurricanes and heat-related emergencies are prevalent.

"Power outage is one of the most common secondary effects of a disaster that so few plan for," said Joe Becker, Vice President of Response at the American Red Cross. "So we ask people to expect the unexpected – plan now and assemble a kit so you and your family can get through the first few days of a disaster more easily."

Red Cross chapters from Ohio to Connecticut quickly responded to the unexpected power outage of 2003 just as people left the office, many commuting home on foot. The hardest hit areas were in and around New York City where traffic came to a standstill and shut down trains and buses. In the midst of sweltering heat, the Red Cross worked with local government officials to set up cooling centers, water stations and emergency aid stations around the city and to distribute water, snacks and other essential items. Red Cross relief workers served more than 88,000 meals.

Several factors, including extreme heat and equipment breakdowns, can affect the supply of electricity. If the needs outweigh the supply, two scenarios can occur. One is a scheduled rolling blackout which is controlled by the power company to manage the supply of electricity. The other is an uncontrolled blackout such as what occurred last summer. Whatever the cause, the Red Cross encourages people to take a few simple steps to prepare ahead of time.

Make a plan. The Red Cross challenges every individual, family member, school and business to know what to do and where to go in the event of any type of disaster. We recommend that individuals identify potential disaster scenarios and practice what they would do if evacuation is needed. It is also important to identify a person residing out of town whom each family member will contact in case of emergency.

Build a kit. Whether evacuating or sheltering in place, a disaster supplies kit can save lives. The contents should be placed in an easy-to-carry container such as a large backpack, duffle bag or plastic bin. It’s important to have everything in one place. Don’t wait until the power is out to look for your emergency supplies in the dark. Assemble essential supplies, including:

• Flashlight (Due to the extreme risk of fire, do not use candles during a power outage)
• Batteries
• Portable, battery powered radio
• At least one gallon of water per person per day
• A small supply of food.

Also, it is important to pack enough non-perishable food items, extra batteries and special items such as medications, diapers, infant formula, etc.

Specifically, when a blackout does occur, there are more steps families can take:

• Turn off electrical equipment in use when the power went out because returning power can surge or spike and may damage anything left plugged in. Leave one light on so you'll know when your power returns.
• Avoid opening the refrigerator and freezer.
• Do not run a generator inside a home or garage.
• If you use a generator, connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator. Do not connect a generator to a home's electrical system.
• Listen to local radio and television for updated information.

In addition to disaster-specific preparedness and response during a blackout, the Red Cross also provides recommendations and guidelines about water treatment, food safety, generators and recovering financially after a disaster. This information is available at www.redcross.org.

Governed by volunteers and supported by community donations, the American Red Cross is a nationwide network of nearly 900 field units dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Led by 1 million volunteers and 36,000 employees, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to families affected by more than 70,000 disasters, trains almost 12 million people in lifesaving skills and keeps U.S. military families connected worldwide. The Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood and blood products to more than 3,000 hospitals across the nation and also assists victims of international disasters and conflicts at locations worldwide. Marsha J. Evans is the President and CEO of the American Red Cross.