The number 1 problem with Hurricane Sandy, the Halloween snow-icane the prior year, etc is power loss. Westchester is heavily wooded which adds to its charm and beauty but makes downed power lines an issue after large storms. ConEd worked 24-7 after Sandy and recruited outside help and yet, given the large number of fallen trees, it took days to clear and restore power.
Things to consider
1. Emergency power generators have become very popular.
2. Alternative lighting - candles worked best for us long term but are a fire hazard in homes with children or pets. We put our candles inside glass jars to keep them safe. We also found the old fashion tapers gave the most light as the flame does not sink down inside the candle body.
3. With winter storms, cold becomes an issue. Do you have a back-up plan to warm your home? If not, go to a heating shelter, motel or friend's house.
4. With summer storms, heat is a problem. An UNOPENED fridge will last about 24 hours and an UNOPENED freezer, 3 days. We pulled the items we wanted to consume out of the fridge and put them into an ice chest/cooler. Then taped the fridge/freezer shut until power was restored.
5. Power outage is a great time for backyard BBQ. Open the freezer once, pull out anything you'd hate to have spoil and have a great BBQ party.
6. Water pressure may fail after a day or more without power. And water may be contaminated by the storm. Fill up water containers before the storm.
7. Life without a smartphone. Many used the public library which had power to recharge their smartphones and laptops.
Power outages can be a fun time to reconnect with the past and live as your great-grandparents did.
