Generators and the Family Emergency Plan

Both homes and businesses use generators as a way to keep things running in spite of the loss of power. Nearly everyone has experienced the surprise that comes when the lights go off in a building and everything comes to a standstill. While sometimes the power is only gone for a few short minutes or an hour, what happens when it cannot be restored right away? Every family should have an emergency plan in place for just such an occurrence.

Family Discussion

It does not matter whether a family consists of adults or includes smaller or older children, a discussion needs to be initiated. Everyone needs to know that the family's safety is important. While the discussion may cause some anxiety because the possibility is never pleasant, it will provide some peace of mind should an emergency find its way to the house. Just knowing that generators will keep the lights on when necessary should set the kids' minds at ease.

Safety First

While there are certain aspects of the home that need to be taken care of in case of an emergency, the safety of the family is the first and foremost priority. Everyone should know how to turn off the water, electricity, and gas that is channeled into the house. If for any reason the home is unsafe, everyone needs to leave as quickly as possible.

For many families in the midst of a power loss, the first priority is making sure that the generators are kicking in. Businesses often depend on their equipment to begin to take over the responsibility power right away, without manually making the adjustment. Homes are sometimes a little different and these generators may need to be manually turned on to bring back the lights. This keeps everyone from stumbling around in the dark.

Member's Responsibility

Each member of the family should be given a responsibility. If an emergency happens and everyone is home, this makes the plan more efficient and covers all of the important tasks right away. If it is still safe to stay in the home, choose a person to turn on the generators. Choose another person to round everyone up in the house and bring them together in a central location.

If necessary, assign one person the task of bringing in necessary supplies like the first aid kit or a fire extinguisher. Sometimes, it becomes necessary to leave. Someone needs to be responsible for rounding up the medications and glasses that everyone will need should they end up staying away from home for several days.

Just because the lights go out does not mean that the moment should be considered a full-fledged emergency. However, it cannot hurt to be prepared in case something does happen. With the proper planning and family discussions, every member can weather the situation successfully.