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Power outages sweep nation

Bloomington, IL -- Harsh weather causes power outages across the country.

An ice storm brought down power lines in Indiana this week, where the Indiana National Guard moved people from darkened homes to shelters until power was restored. Storms also left areas of Ohio, Arkansas, Missouri, West Tennessee and parts of Texas and Kentucky without power this week. Earlier this month, storms caused power outages in the Southeast this month as well.

Not only are they an inconvenience, but power outages can cause property damage and result in substantial monetary loss. To reduce your losses, State Farm offers the following tips:

During an outage residents should:

• Turn off or disconnect any appliances, equipment or electronics that were on when the power went out. When power comes back on, it may come back with momentary “surges” or “spikes” that can damage equipment such as computers and motors in appliances like the air conditioner, refrigerator, washer or furnace. Leave one light on so you know when the power returns.
• Never use candles for emergency lighting, use flashlights.
• Use generators safely. If you have a portable generator, only run it outdoors with adequate ventilation. Never use a generator indoors or in attached garages. The exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide which can be deadly if inhaled.
• Listen to the radio for updates.
• Avoid opening the refrigerator and freezer. This will help keep your food as fresh as possible. If you must eat food that was refrigerated or frozen, check it carefully for signs of spoilage.

For more safety tips view our Power outage tip sheet (PDF 17 KB) or contact Holly Anderson at (309) 735-7745.

About State Farm

State Farm insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm's 17,000 agents and 68,000 employees serve more than 78 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.9 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 32 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca®.