A hurricane’s roar doesn’t end when the wind lets up. It often leaves you in darkness, with no power to light your home or run critical systems. When that breaker flips off, you need a clear plan to keep your family secure, your food from spoiling, and your medical devices humming. At Paragon Electric in Plantation, FL, we help residents through storm-season blackouts. We keep you calm and prepared, so you won’t have to scramble in the dark.
Assess Immediate Safety Upon Outage
When the power cuts out, pause and look around before you fumble for a flashlight. Check that none of your appliances are displaying warning lights or beeping in error. Glance at your breaker panel to confirm whether the outage is general or isolated to your home. If you spot any tripped breakers, switch them off and back on to reset them.
Walk your perimeter to ensure no downed wires pose a shock hazard near your porch or yard. Inside, watch for any gas odors in the kitchen or near your heater, and open windows if you sense something off.
Preserve Food and Water Supplies
Your refrigerator and freezer will keep things cold without power for only so long. Close the doors to trap cold air inside and note the time the outage begins. A full freezer can keep its temperature for up to 48 hours if kept closed. A half-full freezer, however, may only keep food frozen for 24 hours. If the outage persists, use coolers filled with ice or frozen gel packs to maintain safe temperatures for perishables. Inspect water supplies as well.
If you count on an electric pump for a well, turn it off to prevent a dry run that could damage the unit. Fill sanitized pitchers or containers with tap water for drinking and cooking. If municipal access shuts down, you may need to boil stored water once electricity returns.
Protect Your Electronics and Appliances
A sudden return of electricity after a hurricane can come with voltage spikes that damage electronics. Unplug televisions, computers, and gaming consoles to protect them from that surge. Leave a single lamp plugged in so you know when power resumes. Reset any smart-home devices on their own once the grid stabilizes.
Refrigerators and freezers benefit from a brief wait to let the motors sit before plugging back in. That prevents strain on the compressor. Keep sensitive medical devices, like CPAP machines or oxygen concentrators, on a surge protector. You can also use an uninterruptible power supply for extra safety. Label those outlets so everyone in the household knows to restore them first. Better yet, get a whole-home surge protector that prevents damage throughout your entire home.
Use Generators Safely
A portable generator can fill in the gap, but it requires careful handling. Position the unit outdoors on a level surface at least ten feet from windows and doors to vent exhaust. Tie down any loose cords to prevent tripping. Connect the generator to key circuits with a transfer switch. This switch disconnects your home wiring from the grid before power starts.
Running a generator without that safety feature can backfeed into utility lines. This puts electricians in danger. Always fill the fuel tank before the outage if possible, and store extra fuel in approved containers away from open flames. Change the oil after every twenty to thirty hours of use, and inspect spark plugs and air filters.
Use Professional Support
Once the grid comes back, proceed with careful consideration. Reintroduce power to your breaker panel one circuit at a time to avoid tripping the main breaker. Test each major appliance—dryer, water heater, oven—one at a time. Listen for odd sounds or look for error codes that may suggest damage. If a circuit won’t reset or appliances aren’t working, call a licensed electrician.
Don’t try to fix it yourself. For generator maintenance, schedule a service visit after a storm. Change the oil, check the spark plugs, and test the battery backups. If your home had flooding or leaks during the outage, get a plumbing inspection. This will help clear drains and check the sump pump. Professional help after a hurricane reveals hidden problems as you get back to daily life.
Call Us Today To Take Care of Your Home After a Hurricane
After a long outage, check your generator. Also, recharge emergency batteries or schedule urgent electrical repairs. Our local electricians take care of it all. They do electrical repairs, upgrade panels, and install whole-house surge protection. Call Paragon Electric in Plantation today and we can help you prepare for power outages.
