What to do if your power goes out

(WXYZ) - With power outages related to storm damage growing, many people are wondering what they should do if they are without electricity for an extended period of time.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has placed information you need to know if the power goes out unexpectedly online.

First of all, food in a refrigerator and freezer will be safe to consume if power is out for less than two hours. However, after that you have to begin to take precautions. It is also important to remember to keep the doors closed as much as possible.

A half full freezer will hold safely for up to 24 hours, while a packed freezer is considered safe for up to 48 hours.

For the refrigerator you should pack all perishables in a cooler surrounded by ice. However, you should use a food thermometer right before you cook or eat it. Any food that is over 40 degrees should be thrown away.

If a power outage affects drinking water safety, you should boil the water to kill off bacteria and parasites.

You can also take steps to disinfect the water before you drink it, if boiling it is not an option. You can follow the following steps in order to do so:

• Either filter the water or allow it to settle
• Then draw off the clean water
• You can then disinfect it with iodine or chlorine dioxide tablets by following the manufacturer's instructions. You can also use household chlorine bleach by adding an 1.8 of a teaspoon for each gallon of clear water. You should add 1.4 teaspoon for every gallon of cloudy water. After stirring the mixture well, let it stand 30 minutes before using it.