Ready.gov recommends that you keep an emergency kit in your car with a few essentials:

When branches become heavy with ice and fall on power lines, many are left without electricity and need to find alternate sources for keeping their home warm and safe.

If you live in the South, you know this: if it snows, you can pretty much count on school being cancelled. By about day three of last week’s #snowcation, videos started popping up in my news feed of kids dancing on kitchen tables and singing their 800th rendition of “Let It Go” while frazzled parents held onto their sanity. What’s a parent to do? The web is full of great ideas that creative parents have come up with, but here are a few of my favorites:

Growing up in North Carolina, the novelty of a real winter snowfall still catches me by surprise. By being as prepared as I can, I’m able to spend time enjoying the magic of winter with my family. How do you prepare for a winter storm? Do you have any creative ideas for keeping home-bound kiddos entertained?

Emergency power systems are vital for any business or IT operation to keep mission critical systems operational and avoid equipment damage during a power failure. Don Jennings, President of Network Computing Technologies discusses the value of emergency power systems in preventing the loss of electricity to data sources and other IT operations such as servers, point of sale systems, PC’s, routers, switches, telecommunications, and other equipment. The Indoor Generator offers IT professionals an affordable solution that provides hours of backup power at a fraction of the cost of current UPS products on the market. For more information on the Indoor Generator, visit the ElectricMan Inc. website at www.electricmaninc.com.

The kitchen can be an accident-prone area. It can be the busy hub of the house, hosting multiple people and activities at a time. With a variety of large and small electrical appliances being used close to water, there are many potential hazards. Use these safety electrical tips to stay safe in the kitchen and avoid accidents.

Depending on how large or small your kitchen is, counter space can quickly disappear. While cooking a meal you can find yourself using multiple appliances including the stove. If you are not careful a cord from a blender can soon come in contact with a hot stove surface or a toaster oven. If it is left unattended the protective layer on the outside of the electrical wire will begin to heat up and melt. This damage will expose the inner wires and an electrical fire can start. When setting up an appliance on your counter, tuck the cable into a safe spot and keep track of the hot surfaces to avoid.

When baking or washing dishes water can make its way into just about any area. This can cause electrical shock and damage to appliances. Be extra cautions when using liquids around electrical cables and keep spills away from the outlet. To take it a step further you can use outlet covers on unused outlets to avoid liquids splashing into the sockets.

Fridges, freezers, ovens, and microwaves require a high amount of power. Their electrical demand can put a lot of stress on circuits in the home. By putting too many appliances on the same socket and circuit it will cause the breaker to trip. While this may seam like a temporary inconvenience, it is an indication of a larger problem. If this is an on going theme in your kitchen, it may be time to reorganize the arrangement of cables or upgrade your electrical circuits. The damage to appliances will cost a lot more in the long run.

When looking down the sides of your cabinets and counters you can find a lot of crumbs and dirt that you never noticed. Over the years this type of debris can collect behind appliances you never check. If this food is too close to an electrical outlet it could heat up and potential cause a fire. Make an appointment to check around all the outlets of your kitchen and clear out the dust, dirt, and food. While your guests may not be looking in these areas, this maintenance can avoid potential costly fires.

We know that when you are in the kitchen you are likely working overtime. But it is important to take some time to review your family’s safety in the kitchen. If you have questions about your kitchen’s electrical setup or potential issues you have noticed, contact Expert Electric at 604-681-8338.