UNDATED (WKZO AM/FM) — There are hundreds of thousands without power as a cold front is moving in and that could mean deadly alternative heating accidents.
The Michigan Dept. of Community Health says you have to know what you are doing if you resort to gas fired heaters and generators.
They say make sure they have adequate ventilation and that there will be no accumulation of Carbon Monoxide indoors.
There was a case just last week in Battle Creek of a homeless family using a kerosene heater at a business they were using for shelter killing 11-year-old Chloe Stevens and putting her mother and her boyfriend into the hospital.
Health officials say ice and dry ice can extend the life of food in your refrigerator and freezer if you minimize the number of times you open the doors. After it reaches 41-degrees for a while, it’s probably spoiled. When in doubt, throw it out.
Angie Harrier with State Farm says if you are at home sitting in the dark listening to a battery powered radio, because you have lost power in the storm, there are some things you might want to do to protect your property, and make your insurance company happy.
The first is to unplug any electrical equipment. That will protect the electronics from any surge in power when electricity is restored. Surge protectors will accomplish the same task.
She says if you have suffered any roof damage, it’s a good idea to get it covered with a tarp to prevent water damage until permanent repairs can be made.
She says they bring in extra people to help process claims when there are major calamities.
If you have trees down and you are thinking of having professionals remove them, do your homework and make sure they are a reputable firm. Scam artists can follow disasters and appear at your door, ready and willing to take an up-front payment for the job and then disappear.
