NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Temperature spikes across the county are causing blackouts and evacuations from California and Missouri to New York. In Chicago elderly residents without electricity were evacuated to cooler quarters.

As this heat wave continues to sizzle, you may be keeping a wary eye on your own electricity. In today's top tips we'll tell you how you can prepare yourself and your loved ones from a blackout.

Experts we talked to said blackouts are likely for people in Illinois to Pennsylvania, California and New York. These areas are so vulnerable because of aging equipment and disincentives to improve the quality of the system, according to Michael Golay, professor of nuclear science and engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

"No one is truly in charge of designing an efficient system," he says. And it will take about a decade to see any substantial improvements in energy reliability.

But there are steps you can take to minimize the pain of a blackout.

You never really know when a blackout is going to strike. But if you've heard numerous pleas to conserve energy from local officials, generally that's a sign the electrical system is stressed and your neighborhood may be headed into darkness.

Be sure you've started your preparations. Recharge your cell phone batteries while you still can. Make sure you have cold hard cash on hand, since during a blackout you won't be able to use ATMs or your credit card. Your gas tank should have at least a half a tank of gas since gas pumps won't be working in a blackout.

And don't forget about your computer. If you have a laptop, consider a power converter. They can run you about $30. This will let you operate your computer from your car's cigarette lighter.

By federal law, nursing homes must have backup generators that light the entrances and exits and that can maintain life support systems, according to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. But you should get the details on the evacuation plan, says Lauren Shaham of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.

Nursing homes must have an emergency evacuation plan that includes transfer arrangements with a hospital or nursing home. Nursing home staff members must also be trained in emergency procedures.

Once a year nursing homes are inspected by the state. To see the results of the state inspections of various Nursing Homes, or any deficiencies found during inspection, check out www.medicare.gov/nhcompare/home.asp..

Unplug your appliances you were using before the power went out. We're talking about things like air conditioning , the TV and the lights. That's because when the electricity comes back on, you want to avoid power surges which can fry your appliances.

This is one of the most expensive mistakes people make, according to the Red Cross. Even if you're not sure what was on, unplug it anyway. Turn up the thermostat on your central air conditioning so you won't be put such a large strain on the motor when the electricity returns.

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