Jodie Weston
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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?
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]”
Regarding people living in Siberia, are there any other people better prepared for hardship??
While I have a generator to run basics like the refrigerator, TV, Satellite, and a few lights I don’t power the whole house. I have LED stickup lights in the bathrooms and bedrooms. They don’ provide enough light to read by or anything but plenty to move around the room,dress go to the bathroom ect. The plus side is they are always there and light up with one touch. You replace the battery’s once a year and forget them till needed.
What 10k generator can power your whole house?
And don’t all backup gens allow for testing at any time frequency you choose?
We have a Generac natural gas 10kw it powers everything in the house (1500 sq ft ranch w/basement). When it was installed they turned everything on, furnace all the lights air conditioner, etc at the same time. the generator started and ran but you could tell with the furnace AND AC, washer, dryer, etc on it was a bit labored. We wouldn’t be doing that in an emergency or shtf situation but it was nice to know the generator could handle things. Ours self starts every Sunday at a specific time to run the engine, get the oil circulating making sure it will run. Our installer told us unless we ran it continuously 365, to have it checked out every 3-4 years for maintenance, oil change. In the four years we’ve had it, it’s performed admirably and we’re going to have the first maintenance check shortly
We also have a Generac 10KW that is connected to 2 separate power boxes (one is in detached garage) and a master switch inside the house. Ours runs on propane.
Helot: By “pretty poor luck” I mean that neither the crank nor the solar charging worked well (although the crank would work better than the solar). And I always made sure that the radio was capable of receiving shortwave. 🙂
Oops, I meant to say, the Grudndig gets Short wave radio stations ok. Not HAM. I wish it did.
I wonder what exactly you mean by, ‘pretty poor luck with the ones I’ve purchased thus far’? And, which ones?
Myself, I would like to get one that picks up HAM. I’ve been watching for a battery powered one even, but not sure which is good. I have a tiny 5″x3″ Grundig mini400 that kind-of gets stations in, mostly at night, and in Chinese or Spanish or religious broadcasts. I’m in a bad location though and do not use any kind of extra antenna. It’s definitely lightweight though.
I saw a WWII era giant hulk of a HAM radio receiver for sale on Craigslist awhile back and briefly thought about getting it. I’m under the impression that tubes are a bit EMP resistant, but who knows.
Can anyone recommend a good hand crank / solar-and-crank radio? I’ve had pretty poor luck with the ones I’ve purchased thus far.
Hi Gaye, I love reading your post, I don’t know if you have addressed my question before in your blog, but I would like to know what one would do if they live in an apt or house with no fireplace for heat. Do you have any suggestions for a way to keep warm in a situation such as this? I have heard kerosene heaters are not a good for indoor heating.
A generator would be hard to get up to a 2nd floor patio and are noisy. Any other suggestions?
Dear Jean,
I strongly suggest you read the Propane For Preppers, The Five Part Series link above. Especially part five.
Imho, the best start is a warm pair of snowpants. I have a second oversized pair I was going to get rid of but I thought: I can wear it over my snowpants and be doubly warm while sitting idle inside and still be able to move around.
What I forgot to mention regarding my dislike of disposable plates: Even if you bag plates and leftovers to prevent stench, you’ll soon have a mountain of trash that will: 1) tell the world “where” you are, and 2) trash WILL attract vermin AND larger animals such as raccoons, bears, opossum, etc. If at all possible, burn all paper trash (including can labels and scorch those food cans/containers to eliminate food odors. This is probably illegal, but in a life-or-death bug-out scenario, I’d consider burning all that plastic and mylar packaging as well (only do it QUICKLY and at NIGHT so you don’t give away your BOL with clouds of black smoke AND be sure you don’t inhale those toxic fumes.
I like that “old guy”. I had never thought of the black smoke giving away your location. We have a campfire in the back yard every time the grand kids come over, and I am always reminding them NOT to put the plastic plates in the fire. I hate the black smoke and the stench.
This blog post really got me to thinking about getting a rocket stove (or two). I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of getting one before, probably because there’s so many other things on my list of things to get or to build.
I like the idea of building your own stove. Thanks for the input. On the other hand, there’s this to consider:
You didn’t mention how much clay it took to build your stove. For someone who does not have their very own stream-bed to get clay from they might have to buy some. A quick check at a craft store or Walmart, the lowest priced 5 lb. brick of pottery clay is about 9 bucks. Would that type of clay work or would you have to use Blackjack Low Fire Clay at 11 bucks a brick? Would 5 pounds even be enough? And how thick should it be? Is there anything you can do to prevent it from breaking up or cracking as it ages or from use?
If you had to buy a cheap pair of tin snips, add another 9 bucks. Sure, you might be able to find a pair for one Dollar at a garage sale, but if you go just for the purpose of getting tin snips, what about the cost of gasoline to get there and your opportunity costs?
If I went through all that trouble to build a stove I’d want to put a coat of Specialty High Heat paint on it to make it last a little longer and maybe come close to what I could buy, so, add 4 bucks for a can of paint.
If I wanted a door on the stove, the cheapest form of a hinge I can think of is to use wire, so, toss another 4 bucks in.
Total on the low side is 24 bucks for a homemade stove, unless I bought the tin cans, so, a one gallon can is about 8 bucks at Walmart, a one quart is about 4 bucks, I should get both, right? Making it a grand total of 36 bucks and I didn’t even include the cost of a hammer and nails.
You say you built yours for free, but then I got to thinking, you didn’t include the purchase price of your land, nor the taxes you pay on it, into your calculations. The homemade stove wasn’t, “free”.
I read that the larger rocket stoves come with cast iron tops to rest a pan on. I’m not going to add up the cost of forging my own iron and I imagine there’s a product out there somewhere I could scavenge from to make something work, but at what cost and how much time, and how well would it work, compared to what I could buy?
There’s pros and cons to everything. Just thinking out loud, here. For an iron free 64 Dollar difference I think I would rather buy one. But then, that’s 64 bucks I could spend on something else. Decisions, decisions.
Anyway, today I found what my boundary is for what I would be prepared for. Knowing and having boundaries is important, imho. Unless I move to South America I’m Not going to prepare for this;
//fas.org/pir-pubs/nuclear-war-nuclear-winter-and-human-extinction/
The eerie artwork at the top reminded me of homesteaders and was a reminder to me to not be overly self-confident.
Helot, great thoughts!
You don’t need to buy clay. I always think: what is available? In my area there is subsoil (dry clay) about two feet down. I got it my soil from the streambed because I was hoping to find a source of water and got into the clay and couldn’t dig much further. For that matter, ordinary dirt would work too. The only reason for clay/dirt/subsoil in the first place is to act as an insulator. You could use any non-flammable material on hand. If you’re a gardener, you may have perlite, if you have a sandbox in the backyard, use some sand.
I also tried to describe the “no tool” method. REALLY! It only took me about twenty minutes longer using a hammer and a nail to outline the holes over using a pair of tin snips. I always try to use what is available. In a SHTF scenario, you may NOT have any tools except for rocks (pounding like a hammer), sharp stones or sharp sticks (your nail), and definitely use what is available for the metal stove parts…i.e., Use a discarded 5-gal bucket…even a plastic one in a pinch because the soil/clay/dirt surrounding the inner fire chamber will prevent the transfer of all that heat to the outside container.
Another example: I wouldn’t shrink from using a quart paper milk carton for my inner fire chamber IF I used a gloppy clay material for insulation. YES, the quart paper carton WILL burn, but if you start the fire small and “cure” the clay, it will gradually harden and leave a “clay” fire chamber in its place.
Always try to think outside the box. Never buy materials if there is something in the recycle container that would work just fine.
Other containers to think about: 2-lb coffee cans, metal flashing (not galvanized) that can be rolled into shape and held by crimping the ends or held with a couple of screws or pop rivets.
Start thinking about what is available rather than what to buy. You want only basic tools (knife, fire starter, cordage, bow saw blade, etc.) otherwise you’ll either be overloaded with tools in your bug-out bag and won’t be able to run/escape when your life MOST depends on it. Think s-u-r-v-i-v-a-l, not convenience. Build your skill set, not your kit. Exercise your mind (brainstorm for “what-ifs” and “what do I with what I have on hand” rather than “what specialty tool must I add”.
Not to quibble, but if I were to walk half a block away and camp in a ravine, I’d not have to pay taxes, etc. I could still find the necessary materials from neighboring trash cans and the side of the road. I could still find something to use as a tool. Granted, I’d want at least a pocket knife and a BIC lighter for starters, but I don’t need a chainsaw to find sticks, twigs, etc. Like I said, we have to exercise our minds if we are to survive a WORST-CASE scenario.
Thanks for your comments!
HI, I have bricks in my garden I think I can use to build a simple rocket stove. What I could use is someone around the house!
I enjoy your articles and always find something “to chew on” in my concerns about future disaster preparedness scenarios.
You recommended CYBERSTORM (the book) and I read the one-star reviews on Amazon…many, many people thought it was awful, poorly written, no character development, etc., etc. I always check single-star reviews. If there are LOTS of them, then I stay away from those titles.
So, instead, I thought I’d recommend One Second After and the two books by A. American (Going Home and Staying Home). Those were at least credible stories with good character development, good storyline, (some) good prepping “tools” to have, etc.
One last thing, I notice you always seem to recommend disposable plates as part of your preps. While I do use disposables when camping on our property (I use our fire pit to burn trash). A well with backup hand pump is best, but if there is a stream in your BOL, a bottle of liquid dishwashing detergent will last a LONG time. I should mention that we’ve been camping on our property for over thirty years and many years before that when growing up. If you don’t have a usable water supply, you’re already screwed. If you have “doubtful” water, invest in a Berkey (or make one using 5-gallon buckets (see online for instructions) and be SURE to purchase extra filters (they’re $50 apiece and you’ll need at least 2 spares). Note: for seasonal streams, you’ll need to invest in storage tankage and perhaps solar or 12 volt battery pumps (Harbor Freight has cheap [i.e., won’t last too long] portable pumps).
Make a water source (and filtration, chlorination, and TANKAGE) your number one priority after getting shelter at your BOL. Otherwise, you die…just like the rest.
As for dishes, don’t take your dishes from home for camping/bugging out. We buy cheap china at second-hand stores for camping (it doesn’t have to match)…you can get nice plates that will last a lifetime for fifty cents apiece (check the label on the back…should be bone china). I also bought over 100 pieces of silverware (stainless steel, unmatched) for $2 at a second hand store. Garage sales are also places to get a “second set” of silverware on-the-cheap. The same goes for cook pots and pans (make sure you get lids for all cookware, and AVOID non-stick and aluminum ware–for health reasons).
I also recommend garage sales for good, used, refillable, propane cylinders (check the expiration date stamped on the top carrying handle). If it is nearing its expiry date, exchange it at Home Depot, Wal-Mart, etc. The company that does the refilling also does the testing and replaces old/defective valves. Then refill your replacements at your favorite discount service station. On rare occasions, you can also find 5-gallon plastic gas cans…I snap these up because I use them for my garden tractor as well as my generator.
No need to purchase a rocket stove. You can use a 1-gallon paint can, a 1-quart paint can, one 14.5- or 15-oz can for the fuel inlet and a pair of larger tomato or peaches cans for the chimney. I used a hammer and a nail to punch holes in a circle that I’d drawn on the two paint cans and “cut out” the circle using a heavy-duty knife blade. About six inches below the surface in the creek bed I found a supply of clay that I used as insulation between the inner 1-quart can and the outer 1-gallon can. SInce I had all these (used) materials on hand it didn’t cost me a cent and only took a little over an hour to construct it. My only “safety” recommendation would be to wear gloves when handling the knife and to make sure the 1-quart paint can has had all the paint removed…you don’t want to be inhaling burnt latex paint.