Being prepared for outages during severe weather means having your own batteries, water and other essential supplies ready in a storm safety kit.

The purpose of a storm safety kit is to help keep important items in one central location so you and your family members can easily find them. Click here to learn more about what to include in your storm safety kit.

Below are a few items to consider.  You can buy most of these at a retail or hardware store:

• Battery-operated or crank radio. Having a radio on hand will keep you informed of severe weather in the area. You might also consider newer models that feature a USB port to charge your electronics.

• Flashlight. A flashlight reduces the fire hazard from candles. They also last longer and can provide you with a more efficient light source. Crank flashlights are a battery-free option.

• Batteries. If your flashlight or radio uses batteries, make sure you have extras just in case. Plus, you may want to buy an external battery source for your cell phone.
   

• Bottled water. In the event of extended outages, have enough bottled water on hand for you and your family to stay hydrated.

• First aid kit. Hopefully, you won’t have to use it, but make sure it’s with your storm safety kit, just in case.

In addition to having your storm safety kit ready, consider the following ways to stay prepared for whenever severe weather strikes.

Talk to your family about severe weather and create a family emergency plan that everyone can follow. Make sure your car has a full tank of gas and an extra storm safety kit in case you need to travel for an emergency. Remember to stay weather aware and pay attention to local weather reports.

If high winds are predicted in your area, remember to also tie down any outdoor furniture or decorations that may fly away using anchors, tie straps or heavy-duty rope. Smaller items like lawn chairs, toys and grills can be brought inside.

Remember to look out for one another and check on elderly neighbors in your area.

While Oncor teams will be ready to respond as soon as it’s safe to do so, lightning, high winds, hail and other severe weather can potentially lead to power outages. Follow these tips to help stay safe and be prepared in case of an outage.  

To learn more about how to report an outage or check out our outage map visit Oncor.com.