National Preparedness Month: A Lasting Legacy
Prepare for disasters by making a plan and building an emergency kit
Each September, Duquesne Light Company (DLC) joins the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in recognizing National Preparedness Month. This year, we encourage you to develop a home emergency plan and build an emergency kit, so you’re prepared for unexpected disasters.
"A Lasting Legacy," the theme for 2022, reminds us the life we’ve built is worth protecting. Preparedness ensures you can create a lasting legacy for you and your family.
Disasters can strike at any moment, so it’s critical to have a plan in place that is ready at a moment’s notice. When creating a home emergency plan, here are some things to keep in mind:
Step 1: Start by discussing these questions with your family, friends or household:
- How will you receive emergency alerts and warnings?
- What is your shelter plan?
- What is your evacuation route?
- What is your family/household communications plan?
Step 2: Consider your household's specific needs.
As you prepare, tailor your plan and supplies to your specific daily needs and responsibilities. Discuss how people in your network can assist each other with communication, childcare, business, pets or specific needs, like operating medical equipment. Keep these factors in mind when developing your plan:
- Different ages of members within your household
- School-age children
- Pets or service animals
- Responsibilities for assisting others
- Locations frequented
- Dietary needs
- Medical needs such as prescriptions and equipment
- Disabilities or access and functional needs, including devices and equipment
- Languages spoken
- Cultural and religious considerations
Step 3: Build Your Emergency Kit
FEMA offers a variety of tools to build your emergency kit, including a checklist as well as tips to maintain your kit and where to store it. Supplies include:
- Extra phone chargers
- A battery-powered or hand crank radio
- First aid kit
- Flashlights and extra batteries
- Whistles
- Water and non-perishable food
Check out the Emergency Kit page here.
Step 4: Finalize your plan and practice your plan with all members of your household.
Be sure all members of your household understand the plan and are prepared to act in the event of an emergency.
Preparing for Storms and Outages
Additionally, as an essential service provider, DLC encourages you and our customers to prepare for power outages as part of National Preparedness Month.
DLC’s comprehensive storm plans enables the company to quickly mobilize personnel and equipment in response to storm damage and outages. Our Operations Center, which is staffed 24/7/365, quickly coordinates equipment repairs and power restorations around the clock beginning with public safety hazards and critical customers, such as hospitals and other emergency facilities, followed by large neighborhoods and then individual homes.
Preparing for an outage is the best way to keep your family safe:
Before a Power Outage
- Place flashlights, a battery-powered radio and fresh batteries in an easily accessible location.
- Keep a three-day supply of non-perishable food, bottled water (one gallon per day per person) and medication on hand for each person in the household.
- Always have a first-aid kit with current supplies in a convenient location.
- Use surge protectors to protect sensitive electronic equipment.
- In the winter, have an alternate source of heating, along with fuel, available at all times.
During a Power Outage
- Report outages or potentially dangerous situations to DLC by calling 412-393-7000.
- Do not touch downed or hanging power lines or anything in contact with them.
- Avoid opening the refrigerator or freezer. Food can stay frozen in a fully loaded freezer for 36-48 hours if the door remains closed.
- Disconnect or turn off appliances that were on when the outage occurred. Leave a light on so you will know when power is restored. To learn more about DLC’s storm plan, or for additional outage preparedness tips, visit here.