We’re barely a week into fall and the temperatures are already dropping and the stormy season is upon us. Here in Virginia, we’re bound to get our fair share of severe thunderstorms, which always carry the potential of a power outage. Because September is National Preparedness Month, we thought we would help you prepare ahead of time for a power outage, should one happen in your neighborhood.

Many Pittsburgh natives fondly recall the weather beacon atop the Gulf Tower with its flashing neon lights that indicated the weather forecast. The security guard in the building’s lobby would read the weather report in the local paper and switch the lights to red or blue, solid or blinking.

However, this six story pyramid’s neon display used as much energy as 24 homes, and during the energy crisis in the ‘70s, Gulf Oil decided to turn off the lights. When the crisis was over, the lights no longer worked.

Fast-forward a few decades: the building’s owners, inspired by the Empire State Building’s LED displays, decided to reignite the much adored landmark. With new LED technology, the award-winning lighting duo Chris Popowich and Cindy Limauro have enhanced the tower’s former glory with 730 foot-long strips of LEDs that can dazzle in a rainbow of colors.

The newly named KDKA-TV Weather Beacon usually provides a detailed weather display of Pittsburgh’s current conditions including temperature, precipitation, humidity, and wind speed:

May is National Electrical Safety Month, which is appropriate given the fact that this time of year is when many Virginians began taking out electric lawn equipment, setting up their swimming pools and undergoing major home renovations that necessitate the use of electrical devices. As a result, Virginia residents are more likely to encounter electrical hazards or fall victim to an electrical mishap in the spring than probably any other time of year.

According to data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there are roughly 400 electrocutions in the United States annually. Of those 400, almost half are related to consumer products that are mishandled, installed poorly or have faulty wiring. The largest portion of these fatalities involve large household appliances that are used by millions of Americans every day.

While 20 percent of the total mishaps were caused by faulty wiring, another big percentage of electrocutions are actually related to the power lines. Nearly 5 percent of all deaths from these electrocutions were caused when a ladder contacted one of these high-voltage wires during routine home maintenance.

If you are looking to undergo a home renovation that requires use of a ladder, be careful to avoid placing it anywhere near your home's main connection to the power grid. You don't even have to come into direct contact with these lines to become electrocuted, as a good portion of these incidents are caused by electrical arcing between the wire and a ladder. Because of this danger, remain at least 10 feet beneath any power line when you set your ladder up.

Breaker panel wiring is perhaps one of the most important parts of your home’s wiring system. If there is a problem here, it could lead to a fire as well as the risk of your electrical system failing extensively. The only way to know for sure that your electrical system is working properly and that your breaker panel wiring is safe is to have an experienced, licensed electrician take a closer look at it.

The breaker panel wiring in your home is the hub of your electricity. This panel helps to direct where and how electricity flows through your home, and it can play a very important role in keeping your electricity functioning well. It also has a lot of electricity running through it. If you are unsure of whether or not it is working, it is always best to call an electrician. Troubleshooting this panel on your own can be risky.

Just by looking at your breaker panel’s wiring, you may be able to pinpoint specific areas of concern. There are a few key things to look for and to take action against if you do spot them. This includes: