Grid down. What do we do?
Welcome to our comprehensive guide on preparing for a significant power outage that could last several weeks. In our modern world, where electricity is the heartbeat of our daily lives, the mere thought of an extended power outage can be daunting. This guide is designed to equip you with the knowledge, strategies, and tips to not only survive but also maintain a level of comfort and security during such an event.
Power outages can occur unexpectedly and for various reasons, including natural disasters, severe weather, or technical failures. Being unprepared for such a situation can lead to discomfort, inconvenience, and in some cases, serious risks. However, with the right preparation and mindset, you can turn a potentially stressful situation into a manageable and even empowering experience.
Throughout this guide, we'll cover essential topics such as how to effectively manage your food and water supplies, maintain personal safety and hygiene, ensure adequate lighting and warmth, and keep informed and connected without relying on the usual electrical sources. Whether you're a seasoned prepper or new to the concept of emergency preparedness, this guide will provide valuable insights and practical advice to help you confidently face a prolonged power outage. Let's get started on this journey of preparedness, ensuring that you and your family are ready for whatever comes your way.
Power down. Okay. What matters the most?
Water
It’s simple: you will die if you cannot access water. This may not be a concern if you have your own water source, but what if you live in a city like around 50% of People on Earth? If you expect water to continue running from the tap, you are likely fooling yourself. Pumps are required to push the water to your taps. No electricity means no pump. You could think that there may still be electricity to run the pump. Possible. But what if there is not?
Safety
Most People are unprepared for such an event. In less than 48 hours, every shop would run out of food. Don’t expect the masses to behave in a civil way. They will take as much as they can for themselves. Those who do not have resources will try to get them from someone else. How do you expect an individualistic society to behave?
Water
Water will likely not come to your tap anymore. Before even going further, feel free to pause and imagine what you can do. What do you do on the first day? What do you do on the second day? What do you do on the third day?
You need to drink water, so you need:
Access to water
Filtration system.
You also need to go to the toilet and water to flush. If you have a garden, you could see going into your garden. How do you imagine People will behave if they have never thought about solutions to deal with this? Yes, they will use their toilets. They will go into the streets (parks, public toilets, etc). What do you imagine the situation will be after a few days? It's very likely a nightmare. This is why it’s fundamental to be prepared and know what to do if this happens.
You will need between 2 to 4 liters per person daily (drinking, cooking, flushing and cleaning). Prepare a stock of bottled water.
Safety
In today's world, we're so accustomed to having immediate access to essentials like water, food, light, and heating, that the thought of going without them seems almost unfathomable. This dependence on constant access means that if people suddenly find themselves cut off, even for just a day, tensions can quickly escalate. In such scenarios, the range of human reactions can be vast. While some may politely request help and respect your response, others might resort to more desperate measures.
To navigate these challenging times, fostering local resilience is key. Building a strong, supportive community can make a huge difference if you're faced with a prolonged lack of resources. By coming together, not only can you collectively weather the storm, but you'll also strengthen the bonds within your community. However, it's not always easy to bring up the topic of potential disasters, especially if your neighbors haven't considered such scenarios.
When introducing the idea of preparing for a grid-down situation, it's important to approach the conversation with sensitivity and practicality. Start by highlighting recent events or news stories that underscore the importance of being prepared. You can also emphasize the benefits of community support and self-sufficiency in less dire circumstances, like local power outages or severe weather events. Organizing community meetings or workshops focused on emergency preparedness, offering to share resources or skills, and encouraging a neighborhood support network can be effective ways to broach the subject. Remember, the goal is to create a sense of collective well-being and readiness, rather than fear or panic.
Personal defense
If you have no bond with your neighbors, you may want to have a way to defend yourself. Be it with a tool (firearm, knife, baseball bat, etc.) or by using defense tactics. This is at the individual level. At a group level, you want to have a defense mechanism to prevent attacks from groups of People. For instance, you could block road access to your community.
Food
Your fridge won't be working, so perishable foods are a no-go. Stock your pantry with non-perishable items like canned goods, dry pasta, rice, nuts, dry fruits, honey, and olive oil that don’t need refrigeration. Factor in that rice and pasta needs water to be cooked.
If you have a grill, great! That's a perfect way to cook when the stove's not an option. Just make sure you have enough propane or charcoal.
Keep warm
Grid down in the context of warm weather may be okay. You may not require heating at night, but what if indoor temperatures were to drop below 15 degrees for a long period of time? Likely, some People would die if they cannot be kept warm. Your options:
Fireplace with enough wood. You can sleep near the fire.
Focus on living in one room and isolate it as much as possible. Keep this room warm. Close off other rooms.
Wear enough layers.
If the blackout happens in hot weather, you need to stay cool. Keep windows open for ventilation.
Light
Living in the dark is not fun. It’s also not good for your mood. Power down means no light. Here are the options:
The most basic thing we usually think about is candles. Remember, safety first with candles to avoid any fire hazards.
A fireplace can keep us warm and be a light source at the same time.
Get a few mechanically or solar-powered flashlights
Get a headlight
Get some batteries
Basic kits
Medicine
Disinfectants
Soaps
Communication
Keeping a battery-powered or hand-crank radio during a power outage is a smart move. In today's world, we're so used to getting information instantly through our smartphones and the internet, but during a power outage, these might not be reliable. A radio that doesn't depend on the power grid becomes your lifeline to the outside world. It's your main source for updates on the power situation, weather forecasts, emergency instructions, and news. The beauty of a hand-crank radio is that it doesn't rely on batteries – a few cranks can give you several minutes to hours of radio time. However, having a battery-powered option is also wise. Remember to have extra batteries on hand, as you won’t be able to recharge them during the outage. These radios often come with additional features like a flashlight or even a USB port to charge your phone, making them a multi-functional tool in your emergency kit. They're usually compact, so you can easily carry them around the house or if you need to move to a different location. In short, this little gadget keeps you connected and informed when everything else goes off.
The list
To save you time, we made a list:
Bottled water (3 liters per person per day)
Non-perishable food: grains (pasta, rice, canned food, dry fruits, nuts, honey, olive oil)
Mechanically or solar-powered flashlights
Headlight(s)
Batteries
Medicine
Disinfectants
Soaps