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Summer is coming. Warm weather, sunny days and cook outs.

While you are having fun this year, please take a moment and prepare your home and family for Hurricane season.

A little preparedness could save you hours or days of discomfort.

The following are Some Safety tips from the Red Cross for when the power goes out.

Staying Safe Indoors

· Use flash lights in the dark, not candles.

· Eliminate unnecessary travel, especially by car. Traffic lights will be out and roads will be congested.

·  If you are using a generator be sure you understand the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning and how to use generators safely.

Food Safety

· Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. An unopened refrigerator will keep foods cold for about 4 hours. A full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed.

· First use perishable food from the refrigerator. Perishables should have a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) or below to be safe to eat. Then use food from the freezer.

Use your non-perishable foods and staples after using food from the refrigerator and freezer.

· If it looks like the power outage will continue beyond a day, prepare a cooler with ice for your freezer items.

· Keep food in a dry, cool spot and keep it covered at all times.

Electrical Equipment

· Turn off and unplug all unnecessary electrical equipment, including sensitive electronics.

· Turn off or disconnect any appliances (like stoves), equipment or electronics you were using when the power went out. When power comes back on, surges or spikes can damage equipment.

· Leave one light turned on so you’ll know when the power comes back on.

For more, visit the Red Cross website.

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Southern Breezes Real Estate North Charleston SC