Portable generators and kerosene heaters are selling fast at area stores. Owensboro Municipal Utilities is cautioning people who have purchased portable electric generators that they can injure or kill line workers because they can actually feed electricity back into OMU lines where unsuspecting linemen may be working, according to spokesman Jody Wassmer. This could happen if the generator is improperly tied into a home's or business' breaker box. Backup generators should be installed by a licensed electrician with the proper switches to eliminate feedback into electric lines. Officials are also advising people to turn water off to their homes and drain their pipes to prevent water damage from possible frozen pipes.
Food storage is also an issue for homes without power.
Martha Lee, Daviess County home economics extension agent, provided a list of tips to help save food in freezers and refrigerators. Keep doors on freezers closed as much as possible. If the freezer is half full, you may want to open it briefly in add bags of ice or blankets to fill it. The food should stay frozen about 24 hours. Lee said the extension service will answer questions on individual food problems in homes.