By Renee Beasley Jones, Kenergy Corp. Communications Director
EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) - We learned many lessons from the January 2009 ice storm.
One of those is to be prepared.
At Kenergy Corp., we recently unveiled an educational program titled "The First 72 is on You."
We're telling our members to be prepared to spend 72 hours without electricity.
Here are some tips to help:
* Keep on hand a hand-cranked or battery-operated flashlight and radio with extra batteries.
* Store water for emergencies. You will need one gallon per person per day. A two-week supply is optimal.
* Keep on hand nonperishable, easy-to-prepare food. And remember to eat refrigerated food first.
* Don't open your refrigerator or freezer unless necessary.. This will help keep food cold as long as possible.
* If you rely on a medical device that runs off electricity, buy a generator or have an alternative place to live during a severe outage.
* Keep a seven-day supply of medications.
* Know how to disconnect your electric garage door opener to operate manually or your car will be trapped in the garage.
* Stash some extra cash.
In the future, remember the first 72 is on you!
For more information on preparedness, go to www.redcross.org.
To respond to this editorial, send an e-mail or call 812-253-0107. You can send a letter to me at: Debbie Bush, WFIE-TV, and P.O. Box 1414, Evansville, IN 47701.
