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How to prepare for another weekend of power outages

Last weekend, the Pittsburgh area saw high winds, which led to power outages around the region. This weekend, our Severe Weather Team 11 meteorologists say outages could be a problem again as a strong system moves in.

HIGH WIND WATCH: Strong system brings rain, wind into the region; thunderstorms possible

Duquesne Light tells Channel 11 they’re increasing staffing levels to respond to any outages as quickly as possible.

So what can you do to prepare?

Unplug whatever devices you aren’t using and invest in a surge protector.

In addition to having your phone and other devices charged, you should know how to manually operate your garage door. If the power goes out and you don’t know how to do that, your car could get stuck inside.

And, your refrigerator will obviously stop running, so the best way to preserve your food is to keep the door closed. If you keep the refrigerator door closed, food will stay safe for up to four hours. In the freezer, if it’s half-full, it should be good for 24 hours, and if it’s full, for 48 hours.

If you’ve prepared, you can use ice or frozen gel packs to help preserve food in a cooler.

PHOTOS: Strong winds cause damage throughout western Pennsylvania

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