CITY OF RENTON WASHINGTON

• Make sure your emergency kit is stocked, and that you have enough food and water to last for 2 weeks without having to use regular appliances, like your refrigerator or stove top.
• Keep flashlights or lanterns and extra batteries handy.
• Have alternate methods for charging important electronic devices, like cell phones. Solar battery packs or NOAA weather radios with USB ports work well.
• Charge cell phones and battery powered devices.
• If you have a garage with an electric door, know where the manual release lever is and how to use it.
• Keep your vehicle's gas tank half full. If you must run a car to recharge electronics, DO NOT do so in a garage, an enclosed space, or close to your home. This can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Purchase ice or freeze water in plastic containers to help keep food cold. Know when food is not safe to eat during a power outage.
• If you are unable to stay in your household for an extended period of time without power, pre-identify another place to stay.
• Monitor local weather forecasts and reports.
• Consult an electrician before purchasing and installing a generator in your home.

• Only use flashlights or electric camping lanterns for light. Candles can cause fires.
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Know when food is not safe to eat during a power outage.
• If it is hot outside, take steps to remain cool. Shopping centers, movie theaters, the Community Center, and the Senior Activity Center are all good places to visit if you need to cool down.
• If it is cold outside, put on layers of warm clothing. Do NOT burn charcoal or use gas powered camping stoves for heating or cooking, these can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Only use generators outside and away from windows, NEVER inside a garage.

• Throw away food that has been exposed to temperatures 40° F (4° C) for 2 hours or more or that has an unusual color, odor, or texture. When in doubt, throw it out!
• You can refreeze food that colder than 40° F and still has ice crystals on it.
• Contact your doctor if you're concerned about medications having been spoiled.

Power outages should be reported to the responsible utility company.

Puget Sound Energy

Report an outage to Puget Sound Energy online.

For information about current reported Puget Sound Energy outages visit their outage map.

Seattle City Light

Report an outage to Seattle City Light by calling 206-684-3000.

For information about current reported Seattle City Light outages visit their outage map or call their Outage Hotline (recorded message) at 206-684-7400.

Refrigerated Food Safety
Knowing how to determine if food is safe and how to keep food safe will help minimize the potential loss of food and reduce the risk of food borne illness. This fact sheet will help you make the right decisions for keeping your family safe during an emergency.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Information
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas found in fumes produced by the fuel burned in vehicles, small engines, stoves, grills, and other equipment people use during power outages. Carbon monoxide can build up indoors and poison people who breathe it.

Winter Weather Preparedness
Winter weather may cause a power outage.

Extreme Heat Preparedness
Extreme heat may cause a power outage.

Generator Safety
Resources to help you pick the right backup generator for your home for safe usage during a power outage.