When the lights go out, a simple inconvenience can swiftly escalate into a dangerous situation. Power outages, triggered by anything from severe winter storms and summer heatwaves to wildfires or even a delivery vehicle striking a local power line, pose a serious risk. Their potential for harm, regardless of the cause, hinges critically on their duration and the external temperatures.
Building Your Defence: Pre-Blackout Preparation
Experts unanimously agree that readiness is the cornerstone of safety. Michael Coe, Vice President for Physical and Cybersecurity Programs at the American Public Power Association, underscores this with the adage: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
Your preparation must be personalised, advises Denise Everhart, a disaster executive with the American Red Cross. Households with children, pets, or vital medical equipment requiring constant electricity have distinct needs. Coe urges anyone reliant on powered medical devices to inform their utility provider. Many companies offer online forms or phone lines to register these needs, which can help them prioritise support or suggest backup power solutions.
If staying put during an outage is your plan, a well-stocked emergency kit is non-negotiable. Specialists recommend it should contain:
- Supplies to last two weeks, including food, water, pet necessities, and medicine.
- A week's worth of cash, as ATMs and card machines may fail.
- Multiple light sources like torches, glow sticks, or battery-powered lanterns.
- Backup phone batteries and charging cables.
- Extra blankets for cold weather or additional water for heatwaves.
- A written list of important phone numbers.
- A solar-powered or hand-crank radio to receive alerts if mobile networks fail.
Choosing the right food is key—opt for nutritious, ready-to-eat items like peanut butter, jelly, and canned goods. "Is your 6-year-old really going to eat a cold can of chili?" Everhart prompts, highlighting the need for practicality.
Your local infrastructure drastically shapes the blackout experience. Urban homes with gas heating may retain hot water, while rural properties on electric heat and well water could be left with just one toilet flush from the tank. Matthew Gonzales, Executive Director for the Consumer Energy Alliance Southwest Region, advises filling a bathtub or buckets with water beforehand to maintain toilet functionality.
Coe also stresses the critical step of signing up for emergency alerts from your utility, local police, and EMS services to receive instant updates on boil-water notices or evacuation orders.
Navigating the Darkness: During an Outage
Once the power fails, keep refrigerator and freezer doors shut to preserve cold air. Food generally remains safe for up to four hours in a fridge and 48 hours in a full freezer, though frequent opening shortens this time. Consume perishables first. In cold weather around 3°C (37°F), storing food outside may help, but be wary of temperature swings. If in doubt, discard any suspicious items.
Verify water safety before use, consulting sources like the Red Cross emergency app for contamination alerts. For warmth, utilise fireplaces if available. Alternatives include hand warmers, battery-powered heated blankets, or portable propane heaters (with fuel tanks that can also run camping stoves). Everhart issues a stern warning: never leave space heaters or candles unattended due to fire risk, and never run a generator indoors to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. If conditions become unsafe, evacuate.
Before leaving, if it is safe to do so, Gonzales recommends checking on neighbours.
Planning for the Future: Beyond the Immediate Crisis
The optimal time to prepare for a blackout is when the grid is stable. Consider these longer-term steps:
- Learn how to manually open your electric garage door.
- Designate a single, easily accessible spot for keys and vital documents for a quick evacuation.
- Plan an alternative evacuation route in case primary roads are blocked.
- Investigate public transport emergency protocols.
- Consider saving for a larger generator (5,000-10,000 watts) to run essential appliances, typically costing £500-£1,000.
- Explore solar battery storage or electric vehicle reverse charging for backup power.
- Establish family communication plans for when phones and internet fail.
Ultimately, Everhart simplifies preparedness into a clear mantra: "Have a kit, have a plan, have a way to get notified, and a way to notify people. That's really preparedness in a nutshell."
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