It’s easy to take public utilities such as water and electricity for granted. For many people, preparing for a power outage is not a huge priority. However, one outage can quickly remind us of the necessity electricity plays in our lives. Most power outages leave the lights off anywhere from minutes to hours, providing a minor inconvenience and forcing us to reprogram dozens of clocks around the house. When the power goes out for days or even weeks on end, the situation can turn from bad to worse. Freezer contents can spoil and bodily odors will quickly accumulate without a shower. At that point, many people are left wondering why they didn’t prepare better. Even so, at least we can reconcile the situation by reminding ourselves that the outage is only temporary.
Now, what if the outage is indefinite? Maybe the power grid has been significantly compromised, creating blackouts across the nation, and leaving millions in the dark for who knows how long. The Department of Defense’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has identified several vulnerabilities to the nation’s power grid. These range from antiquated high-voltage transformers, to cyberattacks from foreign entities. A long-term power outage can change everything from the supplies you stock to the destination you escape to. Fear not though; a power outage, whether short or long-term, doesn’t have to be painful. Here are five simple tips for preparing for a power outage:
Try to determine how long the outage will last.
This is a good place to start, as there’s no need to take action if it’s a temporary outage. Typical line maintenance or repairs can shut down the grid for only minutes or hours at a time. In most cases, the power has been restored before any impact has been felt.
Check the common causes first.
Is your house the only one without lights? What about the rest of the neighborhood? Power spikes and shortages are common, especially during inclement weather or holiday decorating. The first place to check is the fuse box on the side of the house. A flipped breaker or blown fuse will certainly halt any current flowing in (check out this article for help resetting your breaker). If there’s a car buried into a power pole nearby, chances are that might be the issue.
Be cautious of the things that aren’t powered.
The clock starts on things that require continuous power like appliances and other household items. It’s important to keep the refrigerator cold by opening it only when needed. If your home water system is powered by a pump, don’t flush the toilets unless necessary either. Close up the house to retain heat on cold days, and open up the windows if it’s hot inside.
Have the resources ready for when it goes dark.
There should be a shelf in every house dedicated to emergency supplies: candles, flashlights, lanterns, matches, etc. It’s much easier to be calm and collected when there is light that is shed on the issue.
Utilize tools and technology.
If your area is prone to power outages, it might be wise to invest in a gas generator. Depending on the size, a generator can power many household items for as long as it has gas in the tank. Another source of power is solar, which doesn’t supply the “on-demand” energy of a generator but is still good for cell phones, radios, and other small items.
Humans have grown quite accustomed to the luxuries that electricity provides, but that doesn’t mean we have to be victims of voltage. With a little common sense and some strategic planning, life can still go on without support from the electric company.
Check out our Survival 101 page for other tips and tricks on prepping and survival skills!