Track power outages in Escambia, Santa Rosa as more storms pass by
Days after getting hit with a line of severe thunderstorms that took down trees, damaged buildings and knocked out power for residents in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, more storms are sweeping through the area causing a risk of flooding.
As of 3:40 p.m., Escambia River Electric Cooperative's outage map for the northern halves of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties showed 1,402 customers without power.
There were 221 customers without power from the Choctahwatchee Electric Cooperative according to its outage map..As of 1:30 p.m., Florida Power & Light was not reporting any outages in either county.
Escambia County, Santa Rosa County, Florida power outage map
Power outage map: Check power outages around the state
If your power is still out
A refrigerator will keep food cold for four hours after the power goes out, according to FEMA, and a full freezer will hold its temperature for about 48 hours. If the situation stretches out and you're concerned about the food in your freezer, you can always grill it. Avoid opening the doors as much as possible to keep the cool air in.
"If you are in doubt, monitor temperatures with a thermometer and throw out food if the temperature is 40 degrees or higher," FEMA said on its site.
Eat your fresh, perishable foods first. Use coolers with ice, if available.
Stock up on nonperishable food, at least a few day's worth, and water. Ideally, you should have at least two weeks' worth of food and water available.
Generators, camp stoves or charcoal grills should always be used outdoors and at least 20 feet away from windows.
Staying cool without power in Florida
Power outages are annoying and inconvenient in the best of times, but Florida is experiencing hot and sunny May days with temps in Pensacola expected to reach 79 degrees Monday and higher the rest of the week. If your power is still out, you need to take care of yourself.
The most important thing is to keep yourself cool. The signs of heat stroke aren't as obvious as other dangers, which is one reason some studies have said approximately 1,300 Americans die every year from extreme heat.
Drink lots of water. Staying hydrated keeps you cooler and helps your body work more efficiently.
Rinse off. If you have running water, take a shower or go somewhere you can. Even dumping a bottle of water over your head can help bring your temps down. If you have a pool (or a friend with a pool), hit the water. Don't take a cold shower, though, that can work against you here by forcing your body to work harder.
Mist yourself. Water-misting spray bottles just might keep you sane.
Dip your bandana. Soak a towel or bandana in water and wrap it around your head or body.
Strip. Wear loose clothing in breathable fabric. Stick with light-colored cloth. Avoid tight clothing or jeans.
Fill a cooler with ice. Put wet towels in there and then put them on your skin.
Load up on battery-powered fans. Moving air helps, even if it's warm air. Take some ice from your cooler and put a bowl of it in front of the fan to cool off even more.
Sleep in the least-hot room in the house. If your bedroom is on a 2nd floor or higher, where all that heat is accumulating, this is a good time to crash on the couch. Try to use light-colored sheets and blankets.
Hang wet cloth over windows. If your windows are open and there's any breeze coming through, hang some wet, thin cloth from your curtain rod to cool the air a bit as it comes in.
Consider sleeping outdoors. It might not make that much difference here in Florida where it stays humid all night, but if there's a breeze you might feel cooler outside the house, especially if there's shade. Sleep on the porch, or camp out in the backyard.
Keep your pets cool, too. Your dog and cat are just as hot as you are and they have fur. Keep them hydrated and take steps to keep them cooled down.
Get out. There are places much cooler than your house, and the middle of the day is a great time to go. See a movie, go to the library, run some errands, go to a shady park, spend time in air-conditioned stores, go to a public swimming pool, jump in the ocean, and go anywhere with cool air.
After the power comes back on
Finally! But to stay safe, do these things:
Wait a few minutes before you turn any major appliances back on.
Throw away any food exposed to temperatures 40 degrees or higher for two hours or more, or that has an unusual odor, color or texture.
Dispose of any medication that needs refrigeration, unless the label says otherwise. Check with your healthcare professional or pharmacy to replace it.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Pensacola Florida weather power outage map: Escambia, affected
