Anytime the power goes out, it's inconvenient, but losing power in the winter is particularly dangerous and requires an emergency plan in in the event of a loss of power.

First, if it does turn out to be a snowy Alabama winter, and your power goes out, don't panic. Often, the issue is a simple fuse - so you'll want to check your fuse box first. If a fuse is the cause of your outage, it's quick and easy to repair.

Next, try to contact your neighbors to find out if they're also without power, or if the entire block has lost power. Sometimes a downed power line affects just one house, and other times it can affect entire streets or blocks.

Regardless of the situation, you need to act quickly to retain residual heat. Heat escapes quickly through gaps in windows or doors, so placing rolled up towels or blankets near the bottoms of doors and windows can help hold in the heat a little longer while you're waiting for the power to be restored.

If possible, avoid using candles and instead opt for flashlights to prevent fire hazards. Protect your home against harmful power surges by unplugging major appliances until power is restored. Conserve your food and try to keep from opening the refrigerator and freezer doors unless necessary.

Purchase and have a whole home generator professionally installed by John's Electric. Whether it's winter storms, or hurricanes, being without power is not only inconvenient but a risk to your health and safety.