The Modesto Irrigation District (MID) provides the following basic tips to help you minimize disruption of your business if there is a power outage. This material is intended to be a starting point, not a complete list of precautionary measures. MID has an excellent reliability record, but despite our best efforts some power outages will happen.

Power outages can be caused by a number of things, including bad weather, trees coming in contact with electric lines or equipment, motor vehicle accidents, equipment failure, animals and vandalism. Events through the western United States can also affect the MID electric system. Faulty wiring and equipment inside your business can cause a localized outage.

Put together an Emergncy Kit and include:

• Portable radio and fresh batteries
• Flashlights and fresh batteries - Flashlights are a safer choice than candles.
• Phone with a cord - Cordless telephones don't work when the power is off.

Develop a disaster recovery plan

A disaster recovery plan should address the natural and man-made disasters most likely to affect your business. Such a plan can involve many elements. For example, you may want to identify an alternate location where business could be continued temporarily. A review of your insurance coverage may be in order.

Learn about preventing injuries and attend a safety clinic or first aid class.

Small Business Administration web site has general disaster preparedness tips for businesses. Discusses facilities, buildings and equipment; operational considerations; critical data and communications; and insurance. SBA Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Plan

If your electricity goes off

• Look to see if your neighbors are also without power.
• If everyone else has power, check your fuse box or service panel to determine if the problem is internal.
• Call the MID at (209) 526-7337 or (888) 335-1643 toll-free. Say or press 3 to report the location of the power outage.
• Turn to a local station on your battery-operated radio. If the power outage is extensive or there are rotating outages, there will be announcements on local stations.

Power outages affect many kinds of equipment

Today, businesses depend on many kinds of equipment that rely on electricity, including some you may not have thought about. Computers, certain telephone systems, cash registers, some smoke alarms, security systems and elevators are just a few of the items that may not work during a power outage.

You are responsible for protecting your electronic equipment with appropriate surge devices. Install surge suppressors or uninterruptable power supply on computers and related equipment. Larger businesses should station emergency kits at several key locations.

Protect sensitive equipment and data

• Protect computers and related equipment such as printers or modems, PBX systems, and other electronic equipment with surge suppressors and uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs). If power goes out, a UPS provides battery power at a constant voltage for several minutes, allowing you to safely turn off equipment with minimal risk of data loss.
• Ask your vendors about specific limitations of your equipment. Find out how long it would take to repair or replace damaged equipment.
• During an outage, turn off all electronic equipment. This will help prevent or minimize damage from a possible over voltage condition when power is restored.
• Back up critical data often, making partial backups weekly or daily and complete backups on a regular schedule. Store backup copies in a secure, fireproof location off-site.
• Contact your key software vendors to make sure they have backup files available.
• Make a list of vital telephone numbers, including key customers, vendors and business partners. Keep it updated and store copies off-site.

Plan how to communicate during a power outage

• Don't rely on cordless phones, answering machines, or phones connected to answering machines—all need electricity to operate. Keep at least one non-electrically powered telephone.
• PBX equipment will lose dial tone unless you have backup capability. Customers using Centrex service may not lose telephone service during a power outage. Contact your telecommunications provider for advice and assistance.
• Give key staff cellular phones, two-way radios and/or pagers. Remind them to keep batteries charged.

Plan for employee safety

• If your workplace does not have natural light, store battery-powered flashlights in convenient locations, or install battery-powered exit lights that turn on automatically if power goes out.
• Have a facility evacuation plan, and make sure all employees know about it.
• Review safe shutdown procedures for industrial equipment and train your employees.
  
  

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• Read all operating instructions and manufacturer warnings before using the equipment. If the information is unclear, contact the manufacturer or dealer.
• Connect only those appliances needed during an outage directly into the generator.
• MID does not recommend installing a generator directly into home or building wiring. However, if you must connect a generator directly into a wall outlet, turn off the power to your home or business by turning the main disconnect switch (breaker) to the "off" position. This keeps energy from feeding back into MID lines.
• If using a permanent standby generator for business or personal purposes, an approved transfer switch is required to keep your generator from back feeding into MID's system. The generator installation and operation must conform to MID's interconnection requirements. Also, your city or county building department must inspect the installation.
• Never use gas-powered generators indoors or in an enclosed area.
• Never operate a generator while standing in water.
• Install smoke alarms and test them monthly
• Install surge suppressors or uninterruptable power supply on computers and related equipment.