Safety tips before and during power outages
During extreme weather, your power company may shut off power for public safety. At Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP), we want to share resources to help you and others stay safe when this happens.
You can sign up for alerts and other emergency notifications from:
- Southern California Edison: https://www.sce.com/outage-center/outage-alerts
- Ready Ventura County: www.readyventuracounty.org/vc-alert
- California Office of Emergency Services: https://calalerts.org
Get ready for power shutoffs
Planning for power outages is the best way to stay safe until the power comes back on. If you use electric medical and assistive devices, sign up for a medical baseline program to make sure you get notified of power shutoff events.
Before a power outage
You can prepare by:
- Making a plan with family and caregivers to make sure your needs are met during a power outage.
- Getting flashlights and/or electric lanterns with extra batteries and using surge protectors for any sensitive devices.
- Do not use candles or oil lanterns for light.
- Keeping phones, backup batteries, and other devices fully charged.
- Having a battery-powered radio for news and updates.
- Having freezer packs, ice, and a cooler ready to keep food and medicine cold.
- Learning how to use the manual release lever of an electric garage door.
- Knowing where your circuit breakers and fuse boxes are and how to check them.
- Having phone numbers written down for an emergency.
During a power outage
Stay safe by:
- Reporting downed power lines to 9-1-1 and your utility company. Keep people and pets away. Don’t drive over downed power lines. If one touches your car, stay put and call for help.
- Turning off items that were on before the power went out. Leave on one light that you will see when the power is back.
- Unplugging sensitive electronic equipment if you do not have surge protectors.
- Not using a gas stove or oven to heat your home. Do not use a grill inside to cook food.
- Keeping freezers and refrigerators closed. The refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours. A full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours. Use coolers with ice if needed.
- Using a generator outside, at least 20 feet from doors and windows. Do not use a generator inside your home.
- Going to a community location with power, especially during extreme weather events. During longer outages, reach out to city or county officials to get a list of shelters. Some shelters may better serve people with disabilities or pets.
- Checking if your neighbors, friends, or family members have power and asking if you can stay with them. Or you can offer your home if you have power and others don’t.
Be prepared
- During a power outage, you want to be ready with an emergency kit so you have what you need if you have to leave your home.
- Medication safety: If you take medications, here are some helpful tips to keep yourself safe:
- VC Emergency - Ventura County's Incident Information Source
- 211 resource database of Ventura County
- California Guide to Power Outages - English
- California Guide to Power Outages - Spanish
To learn more about emergency preparedness and other ways to deal with emergencies, visit our Health Library at www.healthwise.net/gchp.