Be ready for the next big storm

For details, call the Kane County Unit at (630) 584-6166.

Recent wintry weather has been a good reminder that ice, wind and snow can leave households without electricity.

According to the Illinois State Water Survey, Illinois averages five severe winter storms per year, with Dec. 24-26 having one of the highest incidences of such storms.

The state survey studies also indicate that severe winter storms produce more total damage than any other type of short-term storm in Illinois such as tornadoes, lightning or hail.

"In preparation for such storms, or for other reasons, homeowners may have an interest in having an emergency generator," said John Church, University of Illinois Extension educator, Natural Resources, Rockford.

When the electricity goes off, there also are often questions about what to do with perishable food supplies, appliances and other home items.

The Illinois Electric Council, through the University of Illinois Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, has online information available to help consumers understand how to determine the need, purchase and use of standby emergency electric generators, and manage outages in the home.

Safe use of emergency generators and related links highlight issues such as why purchase a generator; size of generator needed; voltage specifications; grounding; starting and exercising the generator; location; overloads; and use of extension cords.

Other relevant information about what to do during an electrical outage will help consumers be better prepared when there is a power interruption, including short-term power outages, and suggestions in case a home needs to be shut down for longer periods of time.

The actions will differ from season to season and it discusses these problems and the steps to follow to stay as comfortable and as prepared as possible.

To access the information, visit www.iecouncil.org/index.aspor write to Illinois Electric Council, University of Illinois Agricultural Engineering, 1304 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Urbana, IL 61801.

The Illinois Electric Council, comprised of investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives, the University of Illinois and others, helps research and promote effective, efficient, and safe uses of electrical energy by consumers.

Other information about food management and storage and other issues of clean-up issues and management of power outages is also available online at www.ag.uiuc.edu/~disaster/after.html.