Winter hasn’t set in yet, but it’s bound to.

Here are some useful tips from JCP&L.

• Keep a flashlight and extra batteries handy.
• Have extra blankets or a sleeping bag for each person.
• Do not use gas stoves, grills or other open-flame appliances as a heat source. They could cause deadly carbon monoxide gas to build up in your home.
• Use care when burning candles; open flames are a dangerous fire hazard.
• Follow your manufacturer’s instructions for the operation of a backup generator to ensure you know how to use it safely.
• If you have a water well and pump, keep an emergency supply of bottled water.
• If your home has an electric range, stock an emergency supply of convenience foods that do not require cooking. Don’t forget a can opener!
• Keep a battery-powered radio with extra batteries on hand. Also, have a car charger or battery-charging pack handy to recharge your cell phone in case of an emergency.
• Assemble a first-aid kit.
• Have a hard-wired telephone available to report an emergency. A plain, hard-wired phone can operate on power delivered through the phone line. Do NOT talk on a hard-wired telephone during a storm – telephone lines can conduct electricity, too.

How to Report a Power Outage