PG&E offers storm preparation tips

Pacific Gas and Electricty has offered tips on preparing for power outages during stormy weather.

• Be prepared for power outages year-round with these tips:

Have battery-operated flashlights and radios with fresh batteries ready. Listen for updates on storm conditions and power outages.

If your telephone system requires electricity to work, such as a cordless phone or answering machine, plan for alternate communication. Have a standard telephone handset, cellular telephone or pager ready as a backup.

Candles pose a fire risk, and you should avoid using them. If you must use candles, keep them away from drapes, lampshades and small children. Do not leave candles unattended.

Freeze plastic containers filled with water to make blocks of ice that can be placed in your refrigerator/freezer during an outage to prevent foods from spoiling. Blue Ice from your picnic cooler also works well in the freezer.

If you have a stand-by generator, make sure that it's installed safely and inform PG&E to avoid risking damage to your property and endangering PG&E workers. Information on the safe installation of generators can be found at www.pge.com/generator.

If power goes out, unplug or turn off all electric appliances to avoid overloading circuits and fire hazards when power is restored. Leave a single lamp on to alert you when power returns.

Treat all downed power lines as if they are live, and call 911. Then notify PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.

• Before calling PG&E about a power outage:

Check to see if other neighbors are affected to determine if outage is more widespread or just your home.

If only your residence is without power, check circuit breakers and/or fuse boxes to see if the problem is limited to the home electric system.