No power? Here are 10 tips to get you through
This article was originally published in 2016. Portions of this piece were updated in 2017.
For those without power, here are some tips to get by until the lights come back on.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
1) Know your power company's contact information
You may need to contact them to report further outages or stay up to date on their progress. Xcel Energy phone numbers are 800-895-1999 for residences and 800-481-4700 for businesses.
2) Keep yourself cool
Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and wear loose, light-weight clothing. Bring on the sundresses! Drag those coolers up from the basement, and store ice and ice packs. Putting ice packs on your neck, elbows or wrists can keep you feeling cooler. It's the perfect time for a dip in the pool or a tepid shower, or you may find it's time to visit the relatives with power at night. Sleep on your lowest level.
3) Keep your house cool
Use old-fashioned tricks to keep the temperature in your house down — close the blinds and curtains in the daytime, open the windows wide at night and close them first thing in the morning to preserve the cool air as long as possible.
4) Keep your food cool
Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. If the fridge door remains closed, it can keep food cold for up to four hours. Food can last 48 hours in a fully-packed freezer, 24 hours in half-full freezer. For longer power outages:
• Buy block or dry ice to keep items in the refrigerator as cool as possible. Fifty pounds of dry ice should keep an 18-cubic-foot freezer cold for two days.
• If you can't find dry ice, pack food into coolers with plenty of ice.
• Seafood, meat, eggs, or cooked leftovers should be discarded if they have been above 40F for more than two hours.
After the power comes back on, use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of frozen foods. The food in your freezer that is partially or completely thawed may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
5) Stock up on essential items
• Fresh batteries.
• Battery- (or solar-) powered radio or television and flashlights.
• A phone that does not require electricity (you remember the phones that plug into the wall with a cord, don't you?)
• Battery or wind-up alarm clock.
• Nonperishable food and bottled water. Dig out the manual can opener.
• First aid kit.
• Extension cords may be helpful for partial outages, if your neighbors are willing to share their power.
6) Notify your insurance company immediately if you have property damage
Minnesota Commerce Department Commissioner Mike Rothman urges Minnesotans to contact their insurance companies and start the claims process as soon as possible if they experienced any damage.
"Insurance is meant to be there at times like this when people are most vulnerable," said Rothman in a press release. "The Minnesota Commerce Department is here to help people understand the claims process and provide assistance if they have problems with their insurance."
Make sure take photos, videos or make a detailed list of all personal property destroyed, damaged or lost. Share the list with your insurance adjuster. Do not throw out any damaged items until the adjuster has inspected them.
Rothman suggests that you have your policy information available when you call. If you cannot locate your insurance company information, contact the Commerce Department and they may be able to help you find a contact number. If you have a complaint or cannot resolve your insurance claim, contact the Commerce Department for assistance by email at consumer.protection@state.mn.us or by phone at 651-539-1600 or 800-657-3602 (Greater Minnesota).
7) Make temporary, inexpensive repairs to prevent further damage
Board up broken windows or throw a tarp over a leaky roof. Keep receipts for materials you buy so you can be reimbursed. Do not make permanent repairs until your insurance company has inspected the damage.
8) Prepare for power restoration
Leave one light on so you'll be able to tell when your electricity is restored, but turn off everything else so you don't risk electrical overload when power comes back on.
9) Check on your neighbors, especially the elderly
Check up on those in your neighborhood who might be at risk due to health or age.
10) Keep electronics safe
If you don't have a battery-powered radio or television, you'll need to keep cellphones charged to monitor the news and weather. That means using a car charger, picking up external battery boosters or heading to the nearest coffee shop with power. During a storm, protect your computer from power surges with surge protectors. Unplug sensitive electronics — computers, TVs, modems — from the wall when the power is out.