Surviving a Power Outage
Earlier in the week I provided information on surviving an EMP
blast, an increasingly likely occurrence due to N Korea and its belligerent
stance against the west. This article
deals with something most of experience with far more frequency…power
outages. America’s aging infrastructure
fails often due to storms and even increasingly due to plain old idiots behind
the wheels who hit transformers or work crews who accidentally cut power lines.
With all that has been said about prepping in the last year,
less than one percent of our total population is actively getting ready for a
worst-case scenario. That's amazing considering that you can buy basic prepping
supplies in the big box stores.
It's like I said last week; even if you give most people the information they
need, they won't take action…the average person always wants life
insurance-AFTER they’re dead!
Do
you know how hard it is to search your home in the dark? It’s amazing the
number of things that feel like a battery when it’s pitch black! I’d find
myself doing this ninja-in-the-dark search almost every time, and every time
I’d swear next time I’d be ready. But the lights would come back on after
several minutes or hours and life’s other obligations would take over. Like it
does for so many other people, getting prepared took a backseat to life.
Then
came the blackout in August of 2003. No storm, just intense heat and the power
went off in the middle of the afternoon all over Northeast Ohio. Determined not
to be without lights overnight, I dragged the kids to the drug store two blocks
away for ice, flashlights and batteries. A security guard with a flashlight was
escorting people through the store one at a time. The computers weren’t working
and cashiers were only accepting cash. If you didn’t have cash, you were out of
luck.
The line
to get in the store when we came back out with our supplies was already around
the block, and I heard the security guard tell people waiting that the store
was closing. Had I not gone to the store immediately we would have had no ice,
flashlights or batteries. As it turns out, the power outage that time lasted
two more days for us and up to a week for others in our area. When the power
finally came back on, I was even more determined to be ready for future
blackouts. Here’s how I did it:
Create
a family power outage plan
Strategically
store flashlights and other alternative light sources throughout the house so everyone has immediate access to
light. During a power outage or blackout, you’d be amazed at how disorienting
it can be to walk in the dark, even in your own home. Without that nightlight
in the hall or the light that shines in from the street light outside, your
home is pitch black! The potential to trip and fall or run into something
multiplies tenfold in the dark.
If
you have younger children, it’s a good idea to store a glow stick near their
beds. Show them how to activate it, and instruct
children to stay in their beds or rooms during a power outage
until you come to get them. Give older children, 10 years and up a hand-crank
flashlight or a fully charged headlamp to store near their bed.
Choose
a designated meeting place
on each floor. Kids often misplace or wear down the battery in their
flashlights. They should know to either stay in their rooms until an adult
comes or go to the meeting place for the floor they are on rather than
attempting to navigate stairs in the dark.
So,
in addition to a basic emergency power outage plan, what else can you do? Quite
a few things, actually.
Ways
to prep your home for blackouts
Prepare
a blackout box
It’s
a good idea to prepare a blackout box for your home and possibly one for your
car and even work. A blackout box is simply a waterproof box or other container
that holds everything you might need in the case of a blackout. Having a
blackout box keeps you from having to search all over the house for needed
items.
Items You Should Include:
• An
extra set of house and car keys
• Extra cash
• Flashlights and extra batteries
• Extra mil-spec glow sticks (these are EMP-proof)
• Candles
• Fire starting supplies (so you can start the grill, propane stove or outdoor
fire for cooking)
• Small fire extinguisher
• Fully charged cell phone battery
• Cell phone charger for your car (you may be able to charge your cell this way
in a blackout)
• Written list of phone numbers and contact info for nearby relatives
• Instructions or manuals for lanterns and other non-electric equipment
• Tools needed to shut off utilities
• Emergency weather radio (with dual power options such as hand
crank or solar power)
• First aid kit
Power
preps
•
Replace the battery in your alarm clock regularly so it will work even in an
outage.
• Charge your cell phone any time the battery life drops below 50 percent to
increase the likelihood that it will be fully charged when a blackout occurs.
• Consider buying a portable or even a full-sized home generator that you can rely on in many other
emergencies as well.
• Include a small folding solar
panel setup in your BOB and research ways to at least install a
solar power system as a backup to prep your home for blackouts.
• Store a fully charged portable power bank to power your cell phone and other
electronics.
Lighting
preps
Most
people prepare for a blackout by stocking up on battery -powered flashlights
and candles or lanterns. These are both good options to have on hand. I
definitely recommend you keep at least one or two high-quality tactical
flashlights in your home ready to use at any time. But those of you with
children and grandchildren will understand the struggle over having a working
flashlight and
batteries when you need them.
One
of my favorite things to have on hand in a blackout is several hand crank
flashlights. These never need batteries and provide light via three bright LED
bulbs. Unless the hand breaks, it’s going to provide bright light with minimal
effort. My Energizer Carabiner hand
crank flashlights have
been on hand three years now without fail.
I’ve
yet to pick one up, crank the handle, press the button and be without light. If
the light is weak then I crank it a few times as I head down the hall or
wherever I’m going and I have great light. The kids and grandkids can operate
them safely and thus far they have proven to be indestructible.
Food
and water preps
One
of the biggest threats to your survival, and a big reason to prep your home for
blackouts, has to do with food and water. In today’s society we have come to
rely heavily on running water in the home and the electrical refrigeration and
freezing of food as a way to preserve it.
Keep
in mind that if your freezer is full and you keep the door closed, food will
stay frozen for approximately two days. But if your freezer is only half full
when the power goes out, that time drops to about twenty-four hours. Once you
see food starting to partially thaw, you will need to cook it.
Cooking
food means you’re good for the next 24/maybe 48 hours if you keep the leftover
cooked food in a freezer. If the temperature in your fridge or freezer goes
above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for more than two hours, you’ll probably need to
discard it. Even if the power comes back on, trying to refreeze completely
thawed food can make you sick. You will need water properly stockpiled to use
for things like cooking, hygiene and flushing the toilet until the power is
restored
Make
sure you have an alternative way of
cooking food, especially
for those with electric stoves. Refrigerators and freezers don’t work without
electricity which means stockpiling canned foods and home canned foods are a
great weapon in your arsenal to prep your home for blackouts. A propane or
charcoal BBQ grill is a great back up cooking method during blackouts because
its size will allow you to cook that meat from the freezer quite quickly. Some
people choose to build a solar-powered
oven which is great if
climate allows for it.
Heating
preps
Another
area to consider when you prep your home for blackouts is your heating needs,
especially if you live in a climate where blackouts could occur during cold
weather. Even indoors, hypothermia can be a very real threat to anyone but
especially for children and the elderly. There are a number of different
options for staying warm without
electricity during a blackout
so simply choose the option or options that will work best for your home and
your situation.
Also
consider a butane or propane stove (+ fuel), wool blankets and, as a means of
last resort, a clay pot heater.
Steps
to take during a blackout
Implement
your family power outage plan.
Everyone should know what to do when the power goes out and have either a glow
stick or flashlight within reach. The family will meet in the predetermined
room of the house and decisions can be made as to what happens next. This is
the point where you figure out which cell phones still have power and confirm
everyone is unhurt and has a working glow stick or flashlight, etc.
Determine
as much as you can about the power outage. Knowing why your home is without power
will give you a better idea of how long the outage could last. A power outage
lasts several hours or more, whereas brownouts and blackouts can last for
several days or even weeks. Check outside to see if streetlights are working or
if lights are on in your neighbors’ homes. If streetlights are out, call a
family member outside the area to see if they have been affected by the outage
also. If streetlights are on or neighbors appear to have power, someone needs
to check fuses and breakers in your home first.
Protect
yourself and your home from any further damage. While you wait for power to come back
on, unplug electronic appliances and major appliances to prevent damage if and
when the power comes back on its own.
Notify
your utility company of the power outage if you do not have any indication that they are aware of
the problem. Don’t assume “they must know” because if everyone in the area does
that, it could be hours before they discover the outage during routine
procedures. Calling them may also give you information about an estimated time
of restoration as well.
Possible
reasons for power outages (and how to help prevent them)
Blown
fuse or an overloaded breaker
or circuit in your home can cause a temporary loss of power. One of the best
ways to prevent this is to inspect fuses and circuits regularly. Replace fuses
on a regular basis or keep a spare ready to swap it in as soon as a fuse blows.
Be conscious of how your home is wired and which power outlets are connected to
the same circuit. Do your best not to overload a circuit by turning on or
plugging in too many things at once that are on the same circuit.
Old
trees can fall or snap at any time and fall onto power lines. Inspect your property every time you mow
the grass and at least three or four times in the winter months. Look for and
take care of any trees that appear weak from rot, have dead hanging branches or
seem to be leaning too far. Prior to the start of severe weather season, take
time to prune dead branches and remove any dead trees that could fall onto the
power lines if loaded with ice or snow.
An overload in the power grid occurs for many reasons, but one way you
can do your part to prevent an overload on the grid is to only use the power
you need when you need it. This means prep your home for blackouts by shutting
off lights and unplugging electronics and appliances that aren’t in use. Use
air conditioning and fans only when the weather is hot and miserable instead of
keeping it on 24/7 all summer.
Severe
weather is the most
frequent cause of brownouts and blackouts in many areas. Storms that bring high
winds, hail, ice or heavy snow can bring down power lines and cause issues that
can’t be predicted. The only way to prevent loss of power for your home during
a storm is to be prepared with a generator or other forms of non-electric
power.
A
motor vehicle accident
that takes out a power pole or lines can wreak havoc on an entire neighborhood
and sometimes an entire town. Do your part by driving defensively and
responsibly. Avoid driving when you are overly tired, don’t text while driving
and refrain from driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.
No
matter how vigilant you are at preventing power loss, there will be power
outages and blackouts that you cannot predict or prevent. If you create a
family power outage plan and consider how to prep your home for blackouts in
the categories we mentioned above, you’ll be pretty well prepared for the next
power outage in your home. Have you experienced a power outage? Did you feel
prepared or were you doing a ninja search in the dark for supplies?
—
Megan Stewart
Born and
raised in NE Ohio, with early memories that include grandpa teaching her to
bait a hook and watching her mom, aunts, and grandmothers garden, sew, and can
food, Megan is a true farm girl at heart. For Megan, the 2003 blackout, the
events of 911, and the increasing frequency of natural disasters like Hurricane
Katrina, spurred a desire to be more prepared for whatever may come along. Soon
to be living off-grid, this mother of four and grandmother of six grandsons, is
learning everything she can about preparedness, basic survival, and
self-sufficient homesteading. She is passionate about sharing that knowledge so
that others can be increasingly prepared to protect their families.
The Poor Man’s
Essential Survival Package
--The Doctors Protocol: Secrets of
Survival
--How to Survive the Coming Economic Collapse
--Guide to Self Reliant Living
--Becoming Self Sufficient for Six Months
--How I Found Freedom in an Un-free World
http://1drv.ms/1d9kfiU
Yours for
better living,
Bruce, the Poor Man [I too was raised in NE Ohio]
A Final Note…
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