The York County Commissioners, through of the Office of Emergency Management and Area Agency on Aging, offer the following safety tips in light of extended power outages affecting the area:
- Check on the safety of vulnerable neighbors, friends and relatives (such as the elderly or disabled) to ensure they have adequate supplies of safe food and other essentials.
- Be wary of spoiled food. Use ice to help keep food cold. Discard perishable food (meat, poultry, fish eggs & leftovers) that has been held over 40 degrees for more than 2 hours. Never taste food to determine if it’s safe.
- A freezer that is half full should hold food safely for up to 24 hours. A full freezer will hold food safely for 48 hours. Do not open the freezer or refrigerator doors if you can avoid it.
- If in doubt, THROW IT OUT!
- Never run a generator inside a home or other indoor space.
- Avoid using candles in favor of flashlights during the nighttime hours.
- Unplug sensitive electronics that may be damaged when power is restored.
- Stay cool and drink plenty of fluids. Go to air-conditioned public spaces such as malls for a respite from the heat.
Both PPL and Met-Ed are providing free water and ice to customers without power. The list of PPL locations is here. The list of Met-Ed locations is here.