10 Things To Have When The Power Grid Fails

  • While the list includes certain items you'll need when the power is out, it also has basic stockpile necessities that will help you prepare for other SHTF events. The list is a solid start to ensuring you'll be ready for anything unexpected.

    10 Things You Need to Prepare

    #1 – Lighting

    Make sure you can see! Even a small flashlight can make a huge difference. Consider a flashlight for your car, each bedroom, each bathroom and in your kitchen, garage, and one near your electrical panel and a couple spares (especially if you have kids who lose them). The power can go out when you don’t expect it – anywhere. Consider one for your key ring, your pocket and/or purse, and one at work. Think – Could you find your way out in pitch black with elevators not working at home or work or when traveling?

    Candles or hurricane lamps are possible lighting source, but keep in mind they create a fire risk and fresh air may be a problem if you are in a tightly sealed building. One advantage of candles and lamps is that they do provide heat, which is useful for cold climates.

    A crank powered flashlight is great for kids and serve a double function as a flashlight and backup charger for emergencies. Plus you can get them relatively inexpensively.

    • Multi-function crank flashlight/radio/USB phone charger
    • Inexpensive flashlight (get several of these)
    • Good small work flood light (has a magnet so it can stick to car while changing a tire) using AAA batteries
    • Crank Room light under $20
    • 1000+ lumen flashlight

    #2 – Batteries

    Standardize your flashlights and other battery gear on AA or AAA if possible. You can get 10yr to 20yr life AA batteries. Consider rechargeable batteries and a good charger. They cost a bit more up front but can save you a lot over the years.

    There are crank and solar battery chargers, plus your car can charge batteries while you travel using a 12 volt adapter.

    #3 – Water

    Rotate your water storage. Even water will go stale after extended storage.

    If you suspect power might go out, fill your bathtub, your sink, keep your toilets flushed BEFORE the power goes out. When the power is out, follow the rhyme “if its yellow let it mellow, if its brown flush it down”. Finally, consider good water filters such as Berky and/or Lifestraw. These can take questionable water and make it drinkable.

    • Berkey BK4X2-BB Big Berkey Drinking Water Filtration System with 4 Filters – 2 Black Filters and 2 Fluoride Filters
    • LifeStraw Personal Water Filter
    • Food Grade 3.5 Gallon Bucket With Lid

    #4 – Backup Power

    Know where your power panel is and what each breaker services in your home and practice going to check the panel at least once a year with your entire family. If you can afford it consider a generator.

    Refrigerators & Freezers – They will stay cold longer closed. If you have a generator do you have a way to get power from the generator to the freezer? It seems simple but where did you store that extension cord? Maybe consider an extra one set aside for emergencies.

    #5 – Off Grid Cooking Supplies

    If you can grill, have extra charcoal (2 to 10 bags depending on space and family size). Grill meat that would go bad first and plan food consumption that way. A gas stove might have a pilot light but could also require power. Figure that out BEFORE a power outage.

    A small camp stove can also provide a low fuel quick meal. A rocket stove, or mini gas stove can give a hot meal which can make a big difference.

    #6 – Garbage Disposal

    You need a lot of garbage bags (consider at least 3 boxes).

    Work out a plan for garbage for dealing with disrupted garbage pickup. If you need to burn garbage, build a burn barrel that burns safe and clean.

    # 7 – Food

    Start by stocking extra of what you regularly eat, focusing on dry goods.

    If stocking up on canned goods:

    • Use a Stackable Can Rack Organizer to rotate your canned goods with a first in first out rotation.
    • Don't forget the manual can opener.
    • Jerky, chocolate and dried fruit keep well and make a good treat after a few days of no power, no internet and no TV.
    • Consider purchasing a 72 hour kit or MRE type foods. They are expensive but a great thing if you don’t have food. If the budget allows, a home freeze dryer may be a worthwhile investment.
    • The MINIMUM goal is enough food for 72 hours for everyone in the family – including pets.

    Get Sharpie Permanent Markers to write dates on your cans and dry goods.

    #8 – Heating and Cooling

    Check out Winter Storm Survival – Keeping You and Your Home Warm When the Power Goes Out for cold weather survival tips.

    For hot areas, read 9 Tips Everyone Should Know for Keeping Your House Cool.

    #9 – Communications

    Your cellphone battery will die. So get a solar charger, and/or car charger, and/or crank USB charger. Your cellphone is critical so make sure your power for it is tested – try out your backup plans when you change your batteries at daylight savings in the spring and fall. Assume you might not have 911 or internet… so have a list of key phone numbers written down or printed out. Have LOCAL PAPER MAPS, so you can get where you are going even if a few roads are out and your GPS isn't working. (See Maps for Preparedness.)

    A crank powered radio is good too. Get one that can listen to emergency broadcasts, and even better one that can listen to TV broadcasts.

    • Walkie Talkie 5 to 30 mile
    • Radio (it can also use 4 AA batteries)
    • Also consider HAM radio or multi-pack handheld radios.

    #10 – First Aid Supplies

    Either make your own first aid kit or buy one. Have one kit for home, one in the car/truck, and one for work. You should have enough to be able to hold yourself over if the police/fire/rescue cant show up for roughly a week, so that means medications, insulin, adrenaline, or whatever you need (or might need) to take care of yourself and your family. Ideally, you should get CPR training and basic 1st aid BEFORE you need it, and get the entire family through it, even the squeamish ones.

    Getting In & Out – Know how to get in and out of buildings at home, work and frequented buildings if the power is out, and elevators aren’t working.

    TEAM UP! – Plan with your neighborhood, with your friends and family. Maybe one person is good at first aid, another is a camper, another is a hunter and so on.

    Power Grid Failure – Why Does The Grid Go Down?

    Weather – Snowstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes can generate damaging winds or debris that take down power lines.

    Cyber Attacks – A recent cyber attack in Russia took down the Ukraine power grid. The US utility grid is attacked constantly, it is likely the hackers will eventually succeed and do something bad.

    Earthquakes and Other Natural Disasters – In 1989 Canada experienced a power outage related to a solar flare. Brownouts and storm related power outages are more common. Earthquakes damage infrastructure, which may take significant time to repair.

    Human Error/Disasters – In 2003, there  was a “software bug” power outage, which affected an estimated 10 million people in Ontario and 45 million people in eight U.S. states . 9/11 is another example of a disaster that impacted services including regional phone services and transportation.

    & Do you have any other preparedness tips when it comes to stockpiling for a power grid failure?

    Article Source: Common Sense Home



    7 Comments

    1. Donna Ziccardi said:

      You obviously do not own stock. And you obviously watch MSM or are a govt Troll

    2. Bert Davis said:

      That should be a picture of Bob Zahn with idiot written under his ugly puss. Bob Zahn. Are you a level 2 or level 3 sex offender?

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