Staying Cool During an Electricity Outage

The air grows heavy and the temperature rises as the storm draws near. As the rain starts … well, you know the story. High winds, torrential rainfall, and lightning storms often result in downed power lines, exploding electric boxes, and power outages. Suddenly, that nice cool air you have grown so accustomed to over the summer ceases to exist, as do electric fans, and ice making capabilities. So, how do you cope? How do you intend on staying cool during an electricity outage? Power outages can last from hours to days, and just because the power goes out doesn’t mean the elements will ease up. Time to turn to plan b … or c … or d.

Tips for Beating the Heat When Your Power Goes Out

• Open some windows, and place a fan in front of one of them. Then, fill a bowl with cold water, and put that in front of the fan. The cross breeze will get those fan blades going, and the cold water will help create a cooler breeze moving across your space.
• Prepare an emergency kit ahead of time. Hopefully, you get a chance to do this before you find yourself without power. If not … live and learn. Or, consider this your shopping list: Manual can opener to open canned items that do not need to be cooked (i.e. fruit, some vegetables); Battery-powered fan; Flashlights and batteries; And back up batteries; Candles and matches or lighters.
• You may be tempted to open the freezer and let the cool air rush over you. Unfortunately, you should save that cold air to preserve your perishables. Avoid opening your refrigerator and freezer as much as possible.
• Migrate to a place that does have air conditioning, if even just for a little while. Malls, movie theaters, restaurants, or friends’ houses are good places to start.
• Drink lots of water. As soon as you start to feel thirsty, your body is telling you that it is dehydrated.
• Take a cold shower to lower your body temperature. If you are showered out for the day, running cold water over your “quick cooling spots” is a great way to cool down. Your wrists, tops of your feet, and the insides of your knees are great places to start.