It is officially spring which means warmer weather is on the way. However, with the warmer weather also comes a fair share of storms. Here in Massachusetts, it is common to get thunderstorms with high winds in the spring and early summer. That is why it is important for homeowners and business owners to know what to do in the event of a power outage caused by a stray branch hitting a powerline near your home. In this article we will cover what to do before a storm, what to do when the power goes out, and how to get help from a residential electrician. 

Preparing Your Electrical System For An Upcoming Storm

Preparation is the best thing to do. Always stay on track of your local weather sources to know when to expect an upcoming storm. If you own a generator, you will want to make sure it is working and that you have the gas you will need to power your home. Additionally if you haven’t already you should figure out what circuits you will use the generator to power. If your home has multiple circuits, it makes sense to try and keep the essentials powered, including lights and appliances like refrigerators. Additionally, before a storm make sure phones are charged and that branches are cut down that hang over your property. Taking a few steps before a storm can help you better address issues when the power goes out. 

What To Do When The Power Goes Out

When the power first goes out there are a few things you should do. If you have an outage kit with flashlights you will want to make sure you have that at the ready especially if it is already night time. One thing you should do is call neighbors and check if they lost power. One common mistake made by homeowners is assuming everyone lost power and that the city or town is going to be working on it. In some cases, only your home will lose power if a tree branch hits the wire that goes to your house. Alternatively, only a few homes could lose power depending on where the disruption was. Without information, your local electricians might not be dispatched for a while if they are not aware of the outage. 

Call An Emergency Electrician

If your home’s power has gone out and not the entire street or town, you should call an emergency electrician. If the issue is clearly with your home’s power, the town might not know to send anyone to help if no one reported the outage. Additionally, during a storm electricians are very busy handling project to project. It is always recommended that homeowners have the phone number of a local electrician that can help them. Here in Wakefield, Cardoso Electrical Services is here to help local residents. Learn more about our emergency services by clicking here.