ILLINOIS (WCIA) — With a winter storm blanketing much of Southern and Central Illinois, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency is offering tips for residents who find themselves without power.
As of Sunday night, most of the power outages were concentrated in Southern Illinois. In Central Illinois, around 50 residents just north of Chatham lost power earlier in the day.
Snow emergency declared in multiple Central IL cities, counties
A representative from Ameren Illinois said that heavy snow and wind caused a power line to fall to the ground, knocking out the power for several hours. It was restored around 6:30 p.m.
So, if you find yourself without power, the Illinois EMA said there are several steps you can take to stay safe.
- Unplug televisions, computer equipment, washers, dryers, game consoles, fans and lights
- If using a generator, only use it outside and keep it away from windows
- Never use a gas stove to heat your home
- Use surge protectors
- Solar landscape lights provide hours of low-level lighting. Save your flashlight batteries for tasks that need more light
- Keep your fridge/ freezer closed to keep your food as cold as possible
- Don’t use your grill inside your garage or to heat your house
- Don’t taste your food to see if it’s still safe to eat (when in doubt, throw it out)
- Report outages to local officials so they can begin to fix and restore your power
- If driving, be prepared for four-way stops if traffic lights are out or blinking.