Poor Man Survival
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What
to Do During a Blackout (And How to Prepare for One)+Easy Generator to Home Hookup,
Free Emergency Electricity
Winter is approaching for many of us and
with it, inevitable power outages…the time to prepare is NOW. Here are a few tips to get you started.
A couple weeks ago, after a storm in
Northern Minnesota, some friends of ours were without power for 3 days and lost
about 40 freshly cut fish fillets they had stocked in their freezer, along with
a trash-sackful of other food.
In the rain-drenched Pacific Northwest,
my mom and her husband have a generator which automatically comes on when the
grid goes down. It gets used on a regular basis; the reality of where they live
is that you’re going to lose power a few times a year.
While you may think that
blackouts are few and far between, and you don’t need an article to tell
you what to do and how to prepare, the reality is that they’re a pretty common
occurrence. Because of the United States’ aging infrastructure, our rapidly
increasing population, and a growing number of extreme weather events, the
number of major grid failures (more than 50,000 households affected) in our
country is doubling roughly every four years. In the early 2000s, large-scale
grid outages occurred about 45 times per year, or around 3 per month across the
entire country (surprising how low it is, isn’t it?). Now, there are
large-scale outages almost daily.
Power outages are not an emergency that
is geographically confined. Everyone, in every part of the country (and world),
experiences them. The desert Southwest, tornado country, hurricane country
(we’re coming up on hurricane season now!), and everywhere in between.
In order to come out the other end of a
power outage safely and comfortably, there are things you can do before,
during, and after the electricity goes out. Follow the tips below, and your
neighbors will be coming to you asking for advice the next time the grid goes
down.
Preparing
Before a lengthy power outage ever
occurs, there are some steps you can take to ensure that when (not if) it does
happen, you’ll be ready, and emerge out the other side with no, or minimal,
harm done.
Have a stash of
emergency supplies that includes a few outage-specific items.
Having a stash of emergency supplies
on-hand at home is crucial no matter the dire scenario. There are a few things
though that are related specifically to power outages that you should have
handy, perhaps even in multiple places in the home/garage.
- Flashlights + batteries. Read our primer on flashlights, and get yourself at least a
couple. Having at least one of the hand-crank,
emergency variety is recommended,
as they don’t require batteries.
- Radio. Either battery-powered, or the hand-crank,
emergency kind. With TV and
wifi down, radio could be your only source of information during a power
outage. If it’s battery-powered, be sure to have extra batteries stashed
away.
- Cash. ATM, credit card, and POS
(point-of-sale) machines are likely to be down for the count. Having some
cash on hand for needed transactions will be handy (even if backup
electricity systems are in place for some companies).
- Non-perishable foods. While always good to have on hand
anyway, a supply of non-perishable, non-refrigerated foods (meals, too) is
a necessity for lengthy power outages. If you have a gas stove, keep some
food stocked that you can cook exclusively on a stovetop like soup and
pasta. (Keep in mind that most modern gas stoves get their flame from an
electric starter; you can start them with a match, just be careful.)
If you have an electric stove, you’ll want to always have
a stash of things like jerky and meal replacement bars. Or if
you have a camp stove, you can use it to boil water for dehydrated meals.
- Bottled water. A blackout can compromise a
city’s water purification systems, especially if the outage is prolonged.
If your water becomes unsafe to drink, you’ll want to have some bottles of
it available. Consider establishing a long-term supply as well for especially dire and
prolonged emergencies.
Have extra batteries
for computers/phones, or, separate charging solutions.
With as much as our world relies on
computers, phones, and the internet of things, having backup systems in place
for your electronics is a good idea. Extra computer/phone batteries are pretty
cheap (except for Apple device owners…) and obviously easy to store and pack.
Solar charging solutions are good for Apple device owners, as well as for those
who wish to provide yet another layer of redundancy.
If you have a
generator, know how to operate it and have extra fuel on hand.
Generator safety could be an entire
article of its own (generators are one of the leading causes of carbon monoxide
poisoning, especially during disasters), but for our purposes, if you
have one, know how to safely and properly operate it. Don’t wait until the
power is out to read the manual.
Also be sure to actually have the fuel
on-hand for when an emergency occurs. Many are fueled by gasoline; some are
propane powered, and solar models even exist.
Know how to use your
manual garage release.
If you have an electric garage door
opener (you probably do), it’s not going to work in a power outage. And the
door won’t open manually unless you pull the release cord. It’s extremely easy,
but something a lot of people have never learned.
Have a backup
solution for essential, electrically-operated medical devices.
If you require one of these devices,
contact the manufacturer — they are sure to have procedures in place for when
the power goes out. You should also contact the electric company and let them
know you have essential medical devices in the home; you’ll get priority for
restoration during power outages. It should also be noted that if you have a
needed medical device, it’s prudent to invest in a generator that automatically
turns on when the electrical grid goes down.
During
Check to see if it’s
just a flipped breaker switch.
When you notice the power is out in
your home, first check your electrical panel and see if everything is in order
there. If a switch is flipped off, flip it back on, and check for power. If
nothing comes back on, or the panel looks fine, check to see if it’s just your
home. In most neighborhoods, it’s easy to tell if the outage is confined to
just one home (at least at night). Are exterior lights on? Are rooms lit up
from TVs, computers, and lamps? Are night lights on?
If it’s just your home, call your
electric company and they can send someone out. If it’s a wider area, you can
often check your electric company’s website to see a map of the outage, a
reason, and a prognosis for returned service. (We did this during our power
outage; it’s pretty incredible the amount of info you can get online! (We used
our phone’s 4G service.))
Use flashlights, not
candles.
While candles look pretty, don’t use
them as your primary source of light during a power outage. One or two for
ambiance is fine, but lighting candles all around the house is quite a fire
hazard. Will you remember to blow all of them out when you hit the hay or when
the lights come back on? Will Fido knock one over with his wagging tail? Too
many variables there. As stated above, have flashlights (and/or battery-powered
lanterns) on hand in multiple places in the home, and don’t be afraid to use
them.
If a power line is
down near your home, do not approach it.
Pretty self-explanatory. Call your
local non-emergency police number to report it.
Keep fridge and
freezer doors closed as much as possible.
Keep your food cold! You have limited
time to do so anyway, so any opening and closing of the door simply reduces
your window for not having to throw out your perishables. In the fridge, food
is okay for 4 hours in a power outage; in the freezer it’s good for 24-48
depending on how full it is (the fuller the better). When the power goes out,
if you’re so inclined, you can transfer fridge items to the freezer right away
to preserve things a little longer.
Turn off or unplug
anything that was on during the outage.
When the power comes back, it can surge
at first, causing damage to appliances and electronics. And if not outright
damage, it can screw with programming and software. When the power went out in
our neighborhood, I had to re-program the garage door opener because it
wouldn’t close all the way. Be aware of those sorts of things and switch most
everything off.
It is a good idea, however, to keep at
least one light (or a plugged-in radio) turned on so you know when the power is
Avoid travel by car,
if possible.
If stoplights are out, traffic will be
congested, and more dangerous.
Check with local
authorities about water safety.
Water filtration and sanitation
services can be halted when the power goes out. With reserves and backup
systems, it often only goes bad if the power is out for an extended period of
time. If you’re concerned, check with local authorities as to your water’s
safety, and if there’s doubt, you can throw water in a pot and boil it for a
minute on your gas stovetop or camping stove. Or stick with the bottled
variety.
Be prepared for the
weather.
In the middle of summer, take measures to keep the house cool. In the winter, follow these steps to ensure the house (and the people
inside!) stay plenty warm.
Update: Get outside
and hang out with your neighbors!
Believe it or not, just a day after
this article originally published, I had another significant power outage which
lasted from about 4pm to 7pm. Since it wasn’t nighttime, I wasn’t able to check
other people’s power situation by just snooping out my window. I looked
outside, saw my neighbor across the street also outside sort of looking around,
and I decided to head out there as well. We confirmed that both our houses
didn’t have power, and then, funny enough, more neighbors from the cul-de-sac
came out. What started as simply checking on how far the power outage extended,
turned into a lovely later afternoon of hanging out with neighbors and shooting
the breeze. So when the power goes out, don’t just stay holed up in your abode,
but get out there and interact with some people!
After
Throw out unsafe
food.
Use a thermometer on any foods and
beverages that you can. Throw out anything above 40 degrees. Also use your
nose; “when in doubt, throw it out.” Better to throw out something questionable
than eat it and get sick.
Wait a few minutes to
plug electronics/appliances back in.
This protects against any surges that
happen when power is restored, and also puts less stress on the electrical
grid. Think about it: when power comes back on, all those appliances and
electronics and even lights instantly come back on, putting quite the strain on
homes in the area, and the electrical infrastructure itself. By waiting just a
few minutes, you’re not only helping the grid, but ensuring greater longevity
for your appliances.
Re-stock your
emergency supplies.
After a lengthy power outage, you’ve
used up flashlight batteries, fuel for your generator, your stash of non-perishable
foods…now you have to re-stock it all for the next outage. Also take note of
what you didn’t have that would have been handy. Maybe you thought that
cranking an emergency radio wasn’t very effective, and you’d rather just have
double the batteries you had last time. Perhaps you realized you didn’t have
enough non-perishable goods on hand. Or maybe you simply need to buy a couple
of board games to better pass the time when your laptop’s not working! Do
a post-mortem of the event, and ensure that next time you truly have everything
you need.
Source: The
Art of Manliness
Part
II
Easy Generator to Home Hook
Up
A generator is a core
component to many people's emergency preparedness plans. (Maybe you have a cool
charcoal powered or
a multi-fuel
generator.) However many fail to think through how exactly they will power the
items they want to run when the grid is down.
In June of 2012 my family
experienced a 10 day power outage. It was eye opening. It was 100 degrees
during the day with periods of heavy rain. I had to run a sump pump to keep my
basement dry, a refrigerator, freezer for food preservation, a portable AC unit
in the living room to protect my infant, we charged phones, and ran the wifi
router. I had power cords everywhere. It was a pain. I decided then and there I
would find a better way.
A generator transfer switch is the legal and proper way to power your home with an emergency generator. There are three main types: automatic, manual transfer sub panel and a breaker interlock. Each has varying degrees of complexity, benefits and expense.
Automatic transfer switches will sense a power loss, start your standby generator and automatically move your load to the generator. These are awesome - but very expensive and require a full time dedicated standby generator.
Manual transfer sub panel switches are good option. They are less expensive than the automatic transfer switches (Starting around $300) and can be used with a portable generator. They typically only cover a few breakers which was problematic for me.
Breaker Interlock is the option I chose. It is National Electric Code compliant and is in my opinion the least expensive and most flexible option. My setup cost was just under $150. In this setup you use a breaker to energize your existing breaker box. Switching it on is easy and safe. My wife did an unassisted dry run in under 5 min - which included getting the generator out of the building.
The breaker interlock system has come in very handy for us. We can turn on overhead lights, wash clothes and keep our food cold, charge our phones, run the internet and much more....all while keeping our doors and windows closed and no tripping on extension cords!
A generator transfer switch is the legal and proper way to power your home with an emergency generator. There are three main types: automatic, manual transfer sub panel and a breaker interlock. Each has varying degrees of complexity, benefits and expense.
Automatic transfer switches will sense a power loss, start your standby generator and automatically move your load to the generator. These are awesome - but very expensive and require a full time dedicated standby generator.
Manual transfer sub panel switches are good option. They are less expensive than the automatic transfer switches (Starting around $300) and can be used with a portable generator. They typically only cover a few breakers which was problematic for me.
Breaker Interlock is the option I chose. It is National Electric Code compliant and is in my opinion the least expensive and most flexible option. My setup cost was just under $150. In this setup you use a breaker to energize your existing breaker box. Switching it on is easy and safe. My wife did an unassisted dry run in under 5 min - which included getting the generator out of the building.
The breaker interlock system has come in very handy for us. We can turn on overhead lights, wash clothes and keep our food cold, charge our phones, run the internet and much more....all while keeping our doors and windows closed and no tripping on extension cords!
Disclaimer:
I am not an electrician. After much consulting and over sight from a licensed 25 year Master Electrician I believe these instructions to be correct and accurate for my jurisdiction. Electrical codes vary from place to place. In my place of residence home owners are allowed to do their own electrical work if it is up to code. You are responsible for any code violations, permits or awesome good stuff that comes from doing a project like this.
I am not an electrician. After much consulting and over sight from a licensed 25 year Master Electrician I believe these instructions to be correct and accurate for my jurisdiction. Electrical codes vary from place to place. In my place of residence home owners are allowed to do their own electrical work if it is up to code. You are responsible for any code violations, permits or awesome good stuff that comes from doing a project like this.
I've listened to and
have even seen people using a double male plug to energize their house during a
power outage. This is dangerous.
·
It is an electrical
code violation.
·
It is illegal in most
places.
·
It is a fire hazard.
The power created by your generator is generally greater than the rating for
the receptacle, wire and breaker.
·
If you don't
disconnect your main breaker it can shock the power company linemen - and you
will get sued.
·
You can easily get
shocked because the male plug prongs are exposed.
FREE
EMERGENCY ELECTRICITY
If your power ever goes out, which at some point it will,
don’t just sit there and rely on batteries until the utility company saves you.
Here’s a way you can have enough power to charge a mobile device or a radio to
keep you safe and informed—in case of an emergency.
This secret has to do with a secret power source in your
home that’s always live, even during blackouts.
I’m talking about that phone jack right under your nose.
You probably noticed that nearly every time the power
goes out, the landlines are still up and running.
That’s because the phone company maintains their own
backup power system, and all the power the phone needs comes from them. Even when the phone isn’t in
plugged in, a constant DC signal of about 50–60 volts runs through your phone
jack.
Today, you’re going to learn how to use that underutilized electricity . . . even if you don’t currently have a landline service set up.
There are five (somewhat) simple steps to follow. For step-by-step instructions and an instructional
video, visit the link below.
Emergency power:
Yours for another revolution,
Bruce ‘the Poor Man’
Additional Resources
The Anatomy of a Breakdown
The Prepper’s Blueprint: The Step-By-Step Guide To Help You Through Any Disaster
Prepper’s Home Defense: Security Strategies to Protect Your Family by Any Means Necessary
Contact! A Tactical Manual for Post Collapse Survival
You
may have heard the rage about the new cell phone service provider that offers
free talk, text, and data. It’s called FreedomPop.
We
look at one of the few truly free credit score options. Credit Karma not only
gives you your credit score for free, but they break it down to let you know
what to do to improve your score.
Tips of the Week
This
tip comes from one of our writers, Charles. He's working on a story now about
the Dash
App.
Install a simple device in your car and it turns it into a smart car. You can
monitor on your phone everything from gas mileage to engine temperature to
real-time diagnostics. Oh, and when the engine light comes on, Dash will decode
it for you so you know what's really going on.
8 Fall Chores You Can't
Afford to Ignore (Consumer Report): "Fall is the best time to get your house
in order because come winter, small problems can turn into expensive
nightmares. The following tips can save you thousands of dollars in
repair costs."
Fidelity Study Finds Millennials are Moving Back Home in Droves (Consumerism Commentary): "Ah, millennials. They are the first generation to grow up with iPhones, FaceTime, and GPS apps. Most of their banking is done online and, thanks to Amazon, the majority of web purchases arrive at their doorstep within 2 business days. They hit the generational jackpot when it comes to convenience and ease, it would seem. And now, according to a new study from Fidelity, they are also very likely to still be receiving financial help from their parents, even if they’re 'out on their own.'"
Arm Up System-Defense Without Regulation
PM’s Guide to Home Defense
It is a crazy world out there with plenty of violence and everyone knows you that under most circumstances, police usually arrive after the fact. Your rights to defend yourself are often under attack, even for non-lethal self-defense tools…Includes book and 3 bonus CD ROMS
http://www.bonanza.com/listings/Guide-to-Home-Defense-Arm-Up-System-Defense-W-out-Regulation-Bonuses/370808566
PM’s Guide to Home Defense
It is a crazy world out there with plenty of violence and everyone knows you that under most circumstances, police usually arrive after the fact. Your rights to defend yourself are often under attack, even for non-lethal self-defense tools…Includes book and 3 bonus CD ROMS
http://www.bonanza.com/listings/Guide-to-Home-Defense-Arm-Up-System-Defense-W-out-Regulation-Bonuses/370808566
{Note:
We also offer a Three Set CD-ROM-only version at a lesser price for
those with limited budgets]
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1 comment:
We have a lot of power outages where we live and you've shared many, many good tips and resources-thanks!
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