It’s almost Halloween, so let’s start with a horror movie. 

You know the kind. There’s an unaware innocent victim. The music builds. A shadow flickers in and out of view. A mistake gets made, maybe several. (“DON’T GO IN THERE!”)

And then … “AHHHHH!” The victim’s screaming, because they were caught off guard.

Now. Imagine the victim is prepared. They know what might be coming, and they take sensible steps to deal with it.

A lot less terrifying, isn’t it? When you’ve thought ahead, you don’t need to be anxious. You know what to do.

Even if the lights go out during a winter storm.

Last week, we talked about preparing for a winter outage. They’re not common here, and when they happen, our LPC crews typically have the lights back on in less than an hour. But if Colorado’s weather does hit your line, knowing what to do next can make things a lot more bearable.

So first, some do’s:

• Call us at 303-651-8386! Don’t call 911 unless someone’s hurt or in danger.
• Bundle up and wear layers. Got a favorite sweater, hat, or quilt? Now’s the time!
• Keep to one room as much as you can and concentrate on heating that room. (Avoid one with big windows or uninsulated walls if you can.)
• Block drafts where you can, such as by placing a rolled-up towel at the base of a door. Close your blinds and curtains to insulate your windows.
• Check on elderly or disabled neighbors and make sure they’re safe. If necessary, get them somewhere warm and with power.
• Make it a fun camping trip if you can – pull out the card games, board games, books and sleeping bags!

  And of course, there’s some don’ts:  

• Don’t open doors if you don’t have to; it sucks heat away from where you need it.

• Don’t open your fridge or freezer unless you have to. If the fridge is getting warm, move your food to that cold porch or garage.
• NEVER use a heater designed for outdoor use indoors.
• Don’t burn anything larger than a candle unless it has ventilation to the outside (like a fireplace and chimney). Keep a fire extinguisher nearby – just in case. And please, don’t ever burn outdoor barbecue materials inside, even in a fireplace!
• NEVER use your oven as a heat source. Electric ovens make terrible space heaters and gas ovens can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

Simple stuff. And now you’ve thought about it. You’re ready. No worry needed.

Isn’t that a scream?