Winter Storm Power Outage Prep for Buffalo Homes

Before the storm: the outage checklist

• Carbon monoxide alarms: install working CO detectors with battery backup on every level of the home, as Ready.gov and Erie County health officials advise, and test them.
• Light and news: the New York Department of Public Service suggests at least two battery-operated radios and flashlights, plus fresh batteries.
• Water and food: keep at least three days of bottled water, medications, and food that does not need refrigeration, and fill spare containers with water for washing and cooking.
• Phone and car: charge your phone, consider a car charger, and keep the gas tank at least half full.
• Medical devices: talk to your provider about a plan for powered medical equipment and refrigerated medicine.
• Main water shutoff: find it and make sure it turns, so you can close it fast if a pipe bursts.
• Sump pump: if your basement takes on water when the power is out, ask a qualified plumber whether a battery backup pump or a high-water alarm makes sense for your home.
• Generator plan: if you will use one, read the owner's manual now. New York's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services advises having a generator installed by a qualified electrician where possible and properly disconnecting from utility service first.
• Outage number: save your utility's outage line in your phone (see reporting an outage below).

Print the Storm Power Outage Home Checklist PDF (or the ink-friendly version) and keep it with your flashlights. More printables are in the checklist library. For the rest of the storm list, see winter storm home prep.

Keeping pipes from freezing with the furnace out

If your furnace or boiler stops when the power goes out, a long winter outage becomes a frozen-pipe problem. The New York Department of Public Service advises turning on faucets slightly during a winter outage to avoid frozen or burst pipes.

• Let faucets drip on sinks served by pipes on exterior walls, and open the cabinet doors under them.
• Hold the heat in. New York's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services suggests closing off rooms you do not need and keeping doors closed.
• Never heat with the stove. Erie County health officials and the Department of Public Service warn never to use a gas stove or oven to heat your home, and never to use a charcoal grill indoors.
• If the house gets too cold for people, Ready.gov says to go to a community location with power. In Erie County, call 2-1-1 to find a warming shelter.
• If the outage will last and you leave, decide what to do about the water before you go. See what to do with the heat and water when away in winter.

For which pipes freeze first and how to thaw one safely, see how to prevent frozen pipes. Never thaw a pipe with an open flame.

The sump pump when the power is out

Most sump pumps run on household power, so a winter outage during a thaw or rain can let water rise in the basement. Stay out of standing water and away from wet electrical equipment. The Department of Public Service advises that if your basement or home is in danger of flooding, contact your utility to turn off electric or natural gas service, and never enter a flooded basement until service has been shut off.

What to check, what not to touch, and when to call a plumber are in what to do if your sump pump fails.

Generator safety and carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can kill people and pets, and Erie County health officials note that people who are sleeping can die from it before they have symptoms. Generators are a common source during outages.

• Outdoors only: generators and fuel should always be used outdoors and at least 20 feet away from windows, doors, and attached garages (Ready.gov and Erie County). Never run one in a garage, basement, or any enclosed space.
• No backfeeding: before connecting a portable generator, turn off the main electric breaker so power cannot flow back into utility lines, as the Department of Public Service advises. Plug appliances into the generator with heavy-duty extension cords instead of wiring it into the house yourself.
• Keep it dry: touching a wet generator or devices connected to one can cause electrical shock.
• Refuel cold: let the generator cool before refueling, because fuel spilled on hot engine parts can ignite.
• Clear the vents: keep furnace, dryer, and generator exhaust clear of snow, and keep the outside vent of your CO detector clear, as the National Weather Service advises.
• If a CO alarm sounds or anyone feels dizzy, nauseated, or confused, get everyone to fresh air right away and get medical help. Erie County health officials say to call 911 immediately for symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Reporting an outage and downed lines

1. Check whether your neighbors have power. If they do, check your own fuses or circuit breakers first.
2. Call your utility to report the outage. The Department of Public Service lists these electric outage lines: National Grid, 800-867-5222; NYSEG, 800-572-1131.
3. Follow local radio or your utility for restoration updates.
4. Treat every fallen or sagging power line as live and dangerous. Do not touch it or anything in contact with it, keep children and pets away, and report it to your utility.
5. If you smell gas, leave the house right away and call the gas utility once you are outside.

When the power comes back

1. During the outage, turn off major appliances and sensitive electronics so a surge does not damage them when power returns, and leave one light on so you know when it is back.
2. Once power is steady, turn appliances back on a few at a time.
3. Check that the furnace or boiler restarts and the thermostat is calling for heat. If it does not restart, call a heating contractor before the house cools further.
4. Check that the sump pump is running if water was rising.
5. Walk the house for leaks. A pipe that froze during the outage can start leaking as it thaws; if one bursts, shut off the main water valve and call a licensed plumber.

Why Buffalo plans for winter outages

Snow, ice, and wind are what bring down lines in a Western New York winter, and the timing is predictable. The National Weather Service office in Buffalo notes that the lake-effect snow season can start as early as mid November and peaks in December, and that winters are cloudy, cold, and snowy but changeable, with frequent thaws and rain. A thaw or rain during an outage is when the sump pump matters most. The whole season is laid out in the Buffalo winter checklist, and heavy roof snow is covered in ice dams and roof snow in Buffalo. Landlords with vacant units should also see the Buffalo landlord winter checklist.

Why an app, not another weather alert

A Winter Storm Warning tells you the storm is coming. It does not tell you that tonight is the night to charge the flashlights, test the CO alarm, and check the sump. HomeGuard Weather is designed to turn the forecast into that short home checklist before the weather arrives. It is software only, with no sensor or device to install. It cannot tell you when the power is out, run your sump pump, or replace your utility, official alerts, or emergency services.

For the full launch scope and pricing, see HomeGuard Weather features & pricing.

Sources

• New York State Department of Public Service, utility service interruptions: supplies, half-full gas tank, generators outside only, faucets on slightly in a winter outage, turn off appliances and leave a light on, main breaker off before connecting a generator, flooding and gas safety, downed lines, and the National Grid and NYSEG outage numbers.
• New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, power outages: close off rooms and keep doors closed, no charcoal grill or gas stove for heat, have a generator installed by a qualified electrician.
• Ready.gov, power outages: CO detectors with battery backup, generators 20 feet from windows, doors, and attached garages, community locations with power, medical devices.
• Erie County Department of Health, power outage safety: generator placement, CO detectors on every level, heavy-duty cords, keep the generator dry, refuel cool, never heat with a gas stove or oven, switch off appliances.
• Erie County Department of Health, winter storms and extreme cold: CO is colorless and odorless, sleeping people can die before symptoms, clear exterior vents, call 2-1-1 for a warming shelter.
• National Weather Service, before a winter storm: keep the CO detector's outside vent clear of snow.
• NWS Buffalo, Buffalo climate narrative: lake-effect season timing, frequent thaws and rain.

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