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How to Prepare for and Stay Comfortable During a Power Outage [Short term and Long Term]

Avatar for Jodie Weston Jodie Weston  |  Updated: December 16, 2020
How to Prepare for and Stay Comfortable During a Power Outage [Short term and Long Term]

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Editor’s Note: This resource has been combined and updated!

With winter comes the wind, the snow, the ice and the extreme cold.  And, more likely than not, winter will also bring the occasional power outage.

Have you asked yourself what you would do if the power went out for a day or two or for even a week?  What would you do? Could you fend for yourself?  Could you keep yourself warm in the winter and cool in the summer?  What about food?  Would your refrigerated and frozen items spoil?  And yikes!  What would you do about money if credit cards and ATMs no longer worked?  Did I mention that in all likelihood you would not have internet access either?

power-outage

Today I would like to provide 15 tips for getting through short-term power outages.  These are the power outages that occur during winter storms or when a vehicle hits a power pole.  (Longer term, apocalypse type outages are a subject for another time.)  Now if you have a good memory, you will recall we discussed this subject back in July. That was summer. And now, with the cold months ahead of us, it would not hurt to have a refresher course.

We count on electricity for heat, food, medical, communication and financial needs. Our appliances and work-saving devices rely upon a source of electricity for operation and even many gas-powered appliances such as furnaces and hot water heaters need electricity to run.   The worst thing about it is that when the power goes out, it is likely to be the result of some other emergency such as a hurricane, tornado, or winter storm. This means that the folks that are supposed to fix the problem may be spread wide and spread thin and it may be days before the lights are back on.

A power outage is not something that just might happen.  I can pretty much guarantee that it will happen.  The more you can do to prepare, the greater the likelihood that you will be comfortable and that will only suffer an inconvenience when the lights go out.

15 Tips to Start Prepping

1.  Have flashlights ready in multiple, easily accessible locations around your home.  Be sure to also have plenty of fresh, spare batteries.  You need one really great flashlight but it is also nice to have a bunch of small, handheld LED handheld flashlights.

2.  Have emergency candles plus matches available as well a candle lantern, oil lamp, or propane lantern.  Be sure to include some longer, fireplace type matches or a butane wand for lighting fires in your fireplace or outdoors in a fire pit,

3.  Have either a battery-operated radio, solar radio or hand crank radio so that you can stay in touch with the world.  Make sure your radio is in working condition by testing it at least once a year.

4.  Learn how to cook over an open fire, using charcoal or wood or even biomass.

5  Make sure you have a manual can opener for opening cans of food.  If you are a coffee drinker, also have a French press available as well as pre-ground coffee,

6.  Fill the empty space in your freezer with containers of water. Frozen water will displace air and keep food cold longer if the power goes out. Remember to leave space in containers for ice to expand. Empty milk cartons can be repurposed in this manner.

7.  If you use a landline, have at least one phone with a handset cord in your home. Many cordless phones will not work in a power outage.  Cell phone users should keep their cell phones charged and at the very least, pick up a cell phone car charger so you can charge the cell in your car if it runs down.

8.  If you have an automatic garage door opener, learn how to use the manual release to open your garage door manually.  Keep the instructions handy – perhaps taped to the inside of a closet door – so you don’t have to search for them when the time comes.

9.  Keep your automobile’s fuel tank at least half full. Many gas stations will not be in operation during a power outage. And please – fill up your tank if a major storm is predicted.

10.  Once the power goes out, unplug sensitive electrical equipment such as computers, printers, televisions, and audio equipment.  When the power comes back on, there may be power spikes that can damage delicate electronics.  I know, it has happened to me.  Keeping these items plugged in to surge protector helps but it is still best to unplug these items from the wall completely.

11.  Do not open refrigerators or freezers any more than necessary. An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for approximately 4 hours, an unopened freezer will keep food frozen for approximately 24 hours and even longer if it is located in a cold garage.  You will need to throw away any food items that become warmer than 41 degrees.   No testing, no tasting.  To the garbage it goes.  Sorry, that is just the way it is.

12.  Keep a supply of books, board games, playing cards and other items available to keep you entertained and amused during a power outage.  A bit of chocolate and a bottle or two of wine or whiskey would also help in the amusement area.

13.  Be wary of the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning, which is caused from exposure to odorless fumes created by charcoal grills, camping stoves or generators that are operated inside a home or garage. Never, ever burn charcoal or use gasoline or propane-powered equipment inside your home. Don’t even do it in your garage or on your porch. Use such equipment only when you’re completely outdoors.

14. Notify your power company in advance if you use special healthcare equipment like oxygen generators or dialysis equipment that require power. Most power companies have the ability to note this in their records and will prioritize the response to your home.

15.  If your budget allows, acquire a portable generator.   Learn to safely use your generator and test it monthly.  And don’t forget to store enough fuel to run the generator for up to a week.  Alternately, you can look into solar generator options which are becoming increasingly reliable. Remember, your portable generator does not have to run full time.  Your refrigerator will be just fine without power over night when it is not being opened and closed repeatedly.

Other Recommended Preps for Power Outages

We have covered basic power needs but what are some of the other essentials that you will want to have on hand during a power outage?

The following items will help you to sail through a power outage:

  • Solar battery charger Very handy for charging batteries to power flashlights and other battery powered devices.
  • Stock supplies for bundling up. Blankets are good, but a nice toasty sleeping bag or down comforter is better.  A heavy jacket and socks are good, too. Plan to add layers for staying warm in a grid down scenario.  Long johns, covered by clothing and topped with a jacket will serve you well. Don’t forget hats, scarves, and fingerless gloves, so that you can stay warm and still function.
  • Store foods that require very little in terms of warming or cooking. These foods should be items that your family normally eats. Suggestions? Canned meats, peanut butter, crackers, canned fruits and veggies granola bars, and cold cereals. If you are a coffee drinker, include some instant coffee as well.
  • Chemical light sticks. They are more versatile than you might expect. (Here are 10 reasons you need them in your emergency kit.)
  • Amusements.  Books, games, and playing cards.  My favorite?  A couple of decks of Canasta cards.
  • The Spirit of Adventure.  Okay, I had to throw that in.  Let’s face it, a positive attitude plus your emergency preps will help you soldier through an extended power outage.

How to Survive a Long-Term Power Outage Grid Failure

Okay, so the short-term power outage is now a long-term – grid down – failure. What now?

Day One: Cities are Hit the Hardest

  • Thousands are trapped in elevators
  • All electrical appliances are shut down and inoperative, including refrigerators, freezers, heating units, air conditioners
  • Water faucets run dry
  • Because there is no water, toilets no longer flush
  • ATM machines are inoperative
  • Banks and other businesses are shuttered
  • Emergency generators provide pockets of power and light but, for the most part, there is profound darkness everywhere
  • Battery-powered radios and cell phones still operate but there is no word as to the cause or scale of the power outage
  • Gas stations without generators cannot pump fuel

Day Two:  Confusion Reigns

  • Drugstores and supermarkets have been stripped clean of all goods
  • Law enforcement personnel are overwhelmed by medical emergencies and scattered outbreaks of looting
  • Batteries on laptops and cell phones are dying
  • Radio updates offer conflicting descriptions of the outage and there is no credible news relative to the expected duration
  • Officials disagree as to whether residents should find shelter or evacuate (but to where?)
  • Bridges and tunnels are backed up for hours

Day Three:  No Gas, No Water, and No Food

  • All gas stations have run out of fuel
  • Water is at a premium
  • FEMA has provided emergency generators to pump water and keep sewage systems operational, but supplies are limited
  • Millions of “Meals Ready to Eat” have been distributed.
  • Backup food and water supplies do not exist

End of Week One:  You are On Your Own

  • Emergency rations have been depleted
  • Hundreds of the elderly and infirm have died
  • Hundreds of thousands of refugees have migrated to areas where there still is power
  • Unequipped to house or feed them, some states have instituted plans to keep the refugees out
  • Only the military can maintain a semblance of order and there are not enough troops to go around
  • Millions of people are, essentially, on their own

Week Two and Beyond: Board Up the Windows and Protect Yourself from Looters and Thugs

  • With no end in sight, hiding and defending your goods is a full time job and a number one priority
  • Law enforcement personnel are abandoning their post in order to secure their own families
  • Like-minded neighbors band together to do inventory of resources and exchange goods via barter
  • Neighbors canvass each other for skills that can be put to good use for the collective good
  • Stockpiled food is rationed to the minimum amount needed to maintain necessary caloric levels
  • Hunting, fishing and foraging for food begins and stored goods begin to dwindle
  • FEMA is nowhere to be found

Electronic Armageddon?

A while back NatGeo put out a documentary that deals with both a natural and a nuclear EMP.

THE FINAL WORD

A word about generators:  Using a properly connected whole house generator of adequate size during a power outage will reduce or almost eliminate the impact a power outage has on your life. Before you buy such a generator, talk to an electrician about the size and type you need as well as the installation costs.

Think about what you want your generator to run. For the basics, a generator can be used to keep food cool, provide lights and electricity for stovetops, computers, telephon, s and television, and to power furnace blowers and pumps.  Less important is power for washing machines, dishwashers, and ovens.

The best way to use a generator is to connect it to your home using a transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician. This will keep the power from overloading the wiring in your home. It will also keep the power from your generator from traveling back into the power lines, which could seriously injure or kill people working on power lines.  Alternately, you can connect equipment directly to the outlets on the generator.  If that is your method of choice, be sure that any extension cords are of the proper length and gauge to handle the power requirements of the connected equipment.

Just remember, Mark Twain said, “Climate is what we expect; weather is what we get.”  A power outage is inevitable.  There is really no excuse not be prepared.

Bargain Bin:  Here are some useful items to have on hand when the power is out.

Ambient Weather Emergency Solar Hand Crank Radio: This is becoming a popular choice with Backdoor Survival readers. This unit is a Digital AM/FM NOAA Weather Alert Radio and a powerful 3 LED flashlight, with smart charger, all in one portable package.

Coleman Candle Lantern: When the lights go out, there is nothing like a Coleman. They last forever because spare parts are always available. A candle lantern will not give out the bright light of say, a propane or kerosene lantern. On the other hand, candles are likely to be available when other fuels are not.

Coleman Rugged Battery Powered Lantern: This sturdy Coleman has a runtime of up to 28 hours on the low setting and 18 hours on the high setting but does require D cell batteries. Personally, I have both a battery operated and propane lantern. Of course, by now you know that I like redundancy with my preps.

Dorcy LED Wireless Motion Sensor Flood Lite: I have two of these (so far) and feel that these lights are worth double the price.

AA and AAA Solar Battery Charger: Another popular item. This unit will charge up to 2 pairs of AA or 1 pair of AAA batteries via USB or solar power.

Chemical Lighting aka Light Sticks: These are inexpensive, portable and easy to use. These come in a number of colors so take your pick.

EcoZoom Versa Rocket Stove: Burning twigs and pinecones, this stove will cook a big pot of rice in under 20 minutes. The stove is solidly built and will burn charcoal as well. There is also a version that only burns biomass for slightly less money’.

Bicycle Canasta Games Playing Cards:  Heck, you need something to keep yourself entertained!

100 Hour Plus Emergency Candle Clear Mist: My number one choice for emergency candles. This liquid paraffin candle will burn for over 100 hours. t is also odorless and smokeless, making it a great emergency light source that can be extinguished and re-lit as often as needed. Very safe to use.

~~~~~

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205 Responses to “How to Prepare for and Stay Comfortable During a Power Outage [Short term and Long Term]”

  1. As some one who has had to work outdoors in single digit temps, I can attest to wool. It works even when it gets wet. I especially value wool socks as it is hard to work in snow without getting your feet wet,

  2. sorry, don’t have time to read all comments, hope i won’t make a duplication.

    as far as ‘tea light’ technology, try flowerpot heaters instead of that killer kerosene heater.. cheap. just google, slight variations in design and output.. good luck, thanks for the links on the herc oven, it gave me some ideas. that price is quite prohibitive, i’d like one that can work either on top a coleman stove, or can be powered by tea lights, or maybe even be used in a fireplace.

    sidebar on the covered outdoor cook space, even a large patio umbrella can suffice, or if not too windy, a cheap collapsing tent/marquee can be had for < $100. Of course in wind, you'd want tie downs or spike ins….

    again, good luck to y'all!

  3. Awoke this morning to no power (Ice storm in Memphis).

    My first observations:

    1) Funny how I keep flipping those wall switches when entering a room…
    2) Bought a generator last month even though our “power never goes out.”
    3) Started the generator and got my furnace running – the house has gas heat but needs the electricity to run the blower motor.
    4) Had to hunt around for my coffee maker, then hunt down the filters but was able to have coffee this morning!
    5) Learned that you NEVER leave the coffee pot on the stove unattended when reheating the coffee. Got to scrub out the bottom of my coffee maker after burning the coffee.
    6)Was thankful Lowe’s was open to buy additional extension cords – should have done this in advance – but now we have the freezer, fridge, and modem working!
    7) Clerk at Lowe’s said they sold out of generators immediately this morning…
    8) Long way to go on my prepping but thankful to all who contribute ideas, lists, and experiences to help each other become more prepared. 🙂

  4. Great article. We went through the same situation here is Missouri a few years ago, except most here were without power for 2-6 weeks!

    A few suggestions on how to do things much more efficiently:

    Power:
    Generators are about the least efficient source of power possible. Unless you are using 70% of the rated capacity, you are wasting huge amounts of fuel.
    Get a bunch of inverters from Harbor Freight or Amazon. Power these off batteries (even from your car, which just happens to have a charger and generator built in), but preferably deep cycle batteries. You can run SMALL loads this way for days using very little fuel. A 9 watt CFL light bulb can run for 200 Hours on a deep-cycle battery before needing a top-off. We have several, so we can charge some (outside!) while the others are in use. This will power all our essentials like lights and electronics with just a couple gallons of gas a day.

    With the aforementioned power setup, you can ditch the crank devices and charge lots of batteries. The life cycle of such “emergency” devices is substantially shorter than the life cycle of rechargeable batteries. Not to mention the cost of such specialty items are pricey. Small CFL bulbs put off a tremendous amount of light and can go a long way to softening the “snippy tempers”. Having our “Linus blanket” assortment of electronics still available, even more so.

    Heat:
    A vent-free propane stove will be a much safer and economical heat source. While not intended to be a primary heat source, they can do so in an emergency. While they produce almost no carbon monoxide, a CO detector is cheap insurance. They can consume a lot of the oxygen from the room, but all new models have safety devices to shut it down if oxygen in the room falls to unsafe levels.

    Food:
    Big coolers are a must. We simply loaded our food into coolers and put them out on the porch. Coolers go both ways, they can keep food from freezing in low temps.

    Completely agree with Elder above. If you don’t want to buy a $400 generator for $1,000 or more, then don’t. But please don’t use the stormtroopers to prevent those who wish to from doing so. Here in Missouri, they enacted anti-gouging measures immediately. The result; massive shortages. People were buying much more than they needed at the artificially low prices which prevented many people from getting any at all. There were a few who defied the govt and raised their prices. They ended up being the saviors of the people. Much better to get kerosene at an inflated price than to watch your family freeze.

    • Our local oil supplier here in NC was asked to truck diesel fuel and gas to NY city area after Sandy.
      They didn’t reimburse them for the extra time to avoid the tunnels or bridges(Terrorists-could have had convoys). Couldn’t charge extra for the very needed fuel. After one or two trips they said forget it.
      Government doesn’t understand the profit motive because they take our money and print more so they don’t know people have to work for it. Let people get paid for helping out and help will come. We are a great country with great resources and helpful people. The government frequently screws it up.

  5. A good article except for this one item:

    2. Scammers and con artists came to town with truckloads of $400 generators they were selling for $1,400 to $1,600. They were quickly run out of the county by local law enforcement – citing the creeps didn’t have a business license.

    Basically you are saying that you are fine with law enforcement deciding that your friends and neighbors didn’t need a generator, regardless of their needs or what it was worth to them.
    People coming to your area with generators are providing a service. If their service is priced higher than what people will pay, then they won’t be able to do business.
    If their service is in demand at an agreed upon price then needs are being met (i.e., people now have generators who otherwise wouldn’t have one) and it is those who would run them off and call them names that are the creeps.

    • “fine with law enforcement deciding that your friends and neighbors didn’t need a generator”

      Exactly, Elder.

      There are scammers and con artists who take advantage of disaster: they are the ones contracting to provide goods or services, then take the money and run without fulfilling their side of the bargain.

      The people who honorably provide scarce goods and services at above normal market prices are not scammers and con artists. They may look the same, but unlike the scammers, they fulfill their end.

    • Agreed. And it’s the job of the individual to discern the difference between scammers and legit profiteers, not the government. After all… isn’t government the biggest con artist of them all?

  6. Excellent column, and I’m making a list of items based upon it, but I do have to take exception to the denunciation of “scammers and con artists” with generators. The last thing a community needs is law enforcement thugs running off people selling products at agreed-upon prices. I assume these “con artists” did not force anyone to buy from them?

    I lived in Boston in 1979, during one of the gasoline crises. It was very hard to find a gas station that hadn’t run out. But one station always had gasoline for sale, for $1.57 per gallon. That doesn’t sound like much today, but back then there was OUTRAGE that the price was too high (cue the usual adjectives: “gouging”, “rip-off”, etc.), and the government, with much pomposity, shut the place down. After that, once again, there was often no place to get gas if you really needed it. Thanks SO much, government!

    Reducing the choices that people have to trade freely is not a proper function of government, IMHO. Nor is it in any way helpful; quite the opposite.

  7. We use kerosene heaters as a primary source of heat here in New Hampshire. We’re in an old 1858 farmhouse, and also have a pellet stove – which does not cover several rooms.
    It is perfectly safe to use kerosene all night. As long as you have an adequate flame – in other words, little or no odor – it emits very little carbon monoxide. As a matter of fact, our heaters are UL listed!
    Propane is NOT safe, however. Propane, even with a proper flame gives off copious CO. Only “vented” propane appliances should be used.
    Our kerosene heaters include 100 year-old versions from a company called “Perfection” as well as more modern Japanese heaters.

    • I’m an HVAC tech with 20+ years experience. Any modern heating appliance running properly will emit levels of CO below the allowable limit. The type of fuel is irrelevant. ALWAYS have a CO detector anyway. There comes a time in the life cycle of every appliance where it is no longer “running properly”. It’s preferable to have a CO detector alert you rather than sirens.

      FYI,
      Kerosene is a very complex fuel made of many compounds. The composition can also vary from batch to batch. The more complex the fuel, the harder it is to maintain a “clean burn”. Poor maintenance on a kerosene heater can make it produce copious amounts of CO and equally copious amounts of death. Properly maintained though, they are completely safe.
      Propane is mostly a single component. It’s very consistent from batch to batch. It’s extremely difficult to make a vent-free radiant propane appliance produce dangerous amounts of carbon monoxide. Asphyxiation due to low oxygen levels is the main risk.

      Nearly every jurisdiction prohibits the use of ANY vent-free device as a PRIMARY heat source by code. If it doesn’t have a chimney going outside, it’s “vent free”.

      Either way, CO detectors are very cheap insurance against disaster.

  8. When the going gets tough, the tough go fishing. even in an ice storm. Those of us that don’t have enough sense to get in out of the rain have good rain gear.

  9. My power was out for 12 hours,so no biggie.Used coleman ice chest,added ice and snow from front yard,put longer lasting food in there.
    Stayed off the roads,til clear and safe.
    Was on Facebook,where people were complaining about the power out and losing hundreds of dollars worth of food and is the govt going to pay for it….I did reply ” no,you are responsible for your loss since you bought it”.Most people were venting because their kids were without their electric toys.One lady was need of help,her daughter is an invalid on a breathing machine,air bed,etc and their generator was running to the max.Their local power company had them on a priority list for repair but no response,so she contacted Governor Haley for help.

  10. We survived the same storm and made out pretty good. We were lucky. We took. advantage of all the free ice and filled ziplocs which we shoved into every nook and cranny of the fridge and freezer to keep everything chilled to safe levels. The idea of using the indoor/outdoor thermometers is ingenious! Will definitely have to remember that one for next time.

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