Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 1: Preparing for a Power Outage
• Warnings
• You will need

If you need to learn how to prepare for a power outage, then this article is for you! If you are aware of a storm approaching or a power line has been damaged, follow these simple steps to face a power outage.

Steps

Method 1 of 1: Preparing for a Power Outage

1. 1 Purchase lighting items. Gather all the things that can provide light, such as lanterns, candles, glow sticks, and so on, and place them in an easily accessible place.
   • Stick glowing or fluorescent stickers on your lanterns so you can easily find them at dusk or complete darkness.
   • Keep glow sticks in the refrigerator. The low temperature will slow down the reaction in the sticks, and they will work for 4-5 days, instead of one or two.
   • Place the candles in a baffle (or metal pan) that is deeper than the length of the candle. Thus, the light will bounce off the walls, creating more illumination and reducing the likelihood of fire.
2. 2 Pack up a first aid kit and keep it close at hand. You can never tell in advance what can happen during a power outage, so it is very wise to stockpile all the necessary drugs for a possible treatment within a few days.
   • Your first aid kit should include: bandages (different sizes), bandages, plaster, scissors, antiseptics like hydrogen peroxide, antibiotic ointment like Neosporin, pain relievers. You can buy a first-aid kit ready-made at a pharmacy, or assemble it yourself.
   • Prepare a supply of batteries. Make a list of devices by indicating what type of batteries they work on, rather than simply assuming they all run on AA or AAA batteries. Buy more batteries than you think you will need to have a decent amount in case of prolonged power outages.
3. 3 Find out and write down the telephone number of your electricity supplier (utility company or housing office). If you have a power outage, let them know and they will let you know when you can roughly expect a power outage. Knowledge is power.
4. 4 Buy and use a dynamo powered radio and flashlights. These devices are operated by turning a crank or pushing a lever, so this is a good option in case you run out of batteries.
   • The radio will help you know what's going on. In the event of severe storms, try to stay informed as the authorities may announce an evacuation or provide other important information.
   • In addition, the radio will brighten up your time while other entertainment is unavailable. Until your computer and TV are working, you can always cheer up by tuning in to a good radio wave. As the saying goes: with a song you will pass through the fire!
5. 5 Get a car charger for your mobile. Electricity may not work, but that doesn't mean you can't use your car as a big battery. But be careful not to drain your car battery by charging your phone. The inability to start the car is a more complicated problem than the inability to turn on the phone.
6. 6 Build up a supply of non-perishable food and water. It’s always nice to know that if you don’t have access to your usual food source (for whatever reason), you will have a supply close at hand.
   • Keep enough food for the whole family for a whole week. Soups, cereals, vegetables, and fruits are good options. Don't forget the manual can opener.
   • Keep a three-week supply of water in your pantry. People can live without food for a long time, but water is essential. In severe cases, your tap water can be contaminated and you will have to rely on bottled water.
7. 7 Purchase a primus stove (tourist burner) or grill hibachi. If you have an electric stove, obviously you will not be able to cook on it during a power outage and you will have to rely on other methods of cooking.
   • Prepare a supply of propane or coal cylinders. In rainy weather, propane is preferred. Learn to connect a gas cylinder to the stove in advance so that you do not master this science in difficult conditions.
   • Never use the grill indoors, this can lead to fatal carbon dioxide poisoning!
8. 8 Fill freezer space with water bottles. Frozen water bottles will serve as cold accumulators and keep the refrigerator cold during power outages. And when they thaw, you will have a supply of fresh drinking water.
9. 9 Stock up on fun, non-electronic games. Believe it or not - people once lived without the Internet. With the help of a set of board or card games, you can easily brighten up your time playing with your household during a power outage, cheer yourself up and be able to tune in to a positive mood.
   • Buy a couple of decks of playing cards. Some games require more than one deck, or it happens that individual cards may just get lost.
   • If you or your family prefers to face danger, you can try singing, dancing, or telling stories to each other.
10. 10 Use a wired phone, not a mobile phone.
    • If you have a wired line, then the telephone line will most likely work. Cell towers can be turned off in the event of a power outage, cordless phones (especially with a base station) will also not work, especially in winter.
    • If you don't have a battery watch, you will most likely have to wake up when the sun rises and go to bed when the sun sets. Remember that days are longer and warmer in summer and shorter and colder in winter.

Warnings

• If your water source is a well, then no water will flow during a power outage. If you suspect a power outage, fill the bathroom with water. You can fill the toilet cistern with this water to flush it.
• If you smell gas or know about damage to the gas pipeline, do not use candles.

You will need

• Radio
• Torch
• Glowing sticks
• Matches
• Candles
• Non-perishable products
• Water