PGE offers precautions for staying warm during a winter power storm
Feb. 10, 2021
Portland, Ore. – In anticipation of a potential winter storm in the coming days, Portland General Electric urges customers to take precautions to stay warm and safe. If the power goes out during cold weather, the temperature inside your home can drop rapidly.
Be prepared
Prepare by having supplies handy that keep you warm:
Extra blankets
Winter clothes including hats, gloves or mittens
Hand warmers
Firewood (if you have a safe, working fireplace or wood stove)
Have a backup plan. If your neighborhood experiences an extended outage, consider alternative locations where you can stay safe and warm.
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and Facebook @PortlandGeneralElectric for outage updates and safety tips.
Save body heat
Keep warm by wearing loose layers of clothing to trap body heat.
Wear a hat, even while sleeping.
Keep moving to generate body heat.
Use plenty of blankets and a hot water bottle if you’re able to heat water.
Lock in home heat
Pick one room on the south or west side of the house and close it off to keep the heat in.
Use blankets to insulate windows and doors.
Be alert for signs of hypothermia
Hypothermia occurs when there is a significant drop in core body temperature.
Infants and the elderly are especially susceptible.
If someone has a temperature below 95 degrees Fahrenheit, call for medical help.
Check on elderly neighbors to make sure they have enough supplies to keep warm.
Be cautious with alternative light and heat sources
PGE discourages using candles to light your home during a power outage. They can easily cause house fires. If you do use candles or a fireplace during an outage, be sure to have a fire extinguisher, salt, baking soda and heavy blankets should a fire break out.
Never use kerosene heaters indoors without proper ventilation due to the harmful fumes.
Also never use charcoal briquettes indoors. They produce deadly carbon monoxide.
For more information, visit portlandgeneral.com/safety.