Whether it's a thunderstorm, a heatwave, or just some curious animal or a bird.
No matter who or what’s to blame, suddenly bam!
You don't have electricity anymore.
And it’s dark.
What are you gonna do now?
Well, there are things that can make this situation even worse, so keep them in mind.
1.
Don't touch your circuit breaker panel.
Of course, you need to check it to make sure that the problem isn't limited to just your
house.
Look for any damage on the panel, but be careful and don't touch it, just in case.
If the problem isn't the breaker, check the service wires leading to the house.
If they’re on the ground or obviously damaged, stay away from them and call your electric
supply company.
You can also call your neighbors and ask if their power is off too.
Although if the whole street is dark, well, that’s a big clue.
2.
Don't keep electronics plugged in.
Unplugging electronic appliances, such as microwave, computer, washing machine, and
so on, will save them from any possible damage from an electrical surge when the power comes
back.
Actually, if you see a storm coming and think it might lead to a blackout, it's better to
just go ahead and unplug your equipment to protect it.
But leave one lamp plugged in and switched on just so you know when the power comes back
on.
3.
Don't open the fridge.
When it's closed, the cold air will stay inside, preventing your food from spoiling.
So open it only when it's necessary.
A closed fridge can maintain the proper temperature for about 4 hours.
As for the freezer, your food is safe there for up to two days.
But if your freezer is half-empty this period is shorter.
You can make it a habit of keeping a few bottles in the freezer.
This way your freezer will stay cold longer and you'll have drinking water just in case
severe weather conditions leave you without running water at home.
4.
Don't use candles.
Lighting them isn't the best option since they don't give off much light.
But the main problem is that candles can cause a fire.
Burning candles is especially dangerous if you have kids or pets who could accidentally
knock them down.
It's better to put a few flashlights around the house.
But don't forget to check them once in a while to make sure the batteries still work.
5.
Don't forget about a CO2 detector.
If a power outage hits during cold seasons, you'll obviously want to get warm somehow.
Some crank up fireplaces, others use gas stoves for this purpose.
But everything that burns produces carbon monoxide.
To avoid the risk of being poisoned by this odorless, colorless gas, get a battery-powered
CO2 detector.
6.
Don't leave your car tank empty.
During severe weather, you never know when you’ll have to leave your house because
of an emergency evacuation.
Besides, it might be the only heated space you'll have.
But if your whole neighborhood doesn't have electricity, then gas stations probably won't
be an option since they need the power to pump gas from their tanks to yours.
That's why it's important to keep the tank full before a storm hits.
Also, you can keep filled gas cans in your garage.
7.
Don't forget about security gates.
If your neighborhood has subdivision security gates, you should be aware of the fact that
many of them are powered by electricity.
So, you won't be able to open them just by pressing a button.
But many people have no idea how to open them manually.
Contact the security office to find out.
This way you can plan to leave your neighborhood easily if need be.
8.
Don’t waste your phone’s battery.
Playing games, listening to music or checking social media on your cell phone seems like
a good idea when the power is out since there’s nothing else to do.
But it’s better to close all your apps and dim the backlight to save the battery.
When there’s no way to charge the phone, you definitely don’t want to be left without
the option to make a call in some emergency.
If you still can’t resist surfing the Internet, make sure you have a portable charger.
9.
Don’t take a long shower.
If you have a tank-style water heater then consider yourself lucky – you still have
an opportunity to get clean during a blackout.
Though you’ll have hot water in reserve, its temperature will keep dropping.
So if you want to take a shower do it as soon as possible.
However, if the blackout is caused by a storm, then never take a shower till the storm ends.
It is possible to get struck by lightning while in the shower.
Which would be a shocking thing.
10.
Don’t ignore traffic rules.
If traffic lights stop working in your area because of the power failure, and you happen
to be at the wheel, it doesn’t mean you can blow through intersections.
Some think that broken traffic lights serve as a four-way stop.
But actually, they work the same way as a four-way yield.
This means that if two cars come to an intersection on different roads at the same time, the driver
of the car on the left should yield to the other vehicle.
11.
Don’t forget about cash.
During a neighborhood-wide blackout, your credit cards will be pretty useless.
That’s why it’s important to have some cash at home.
You might need different supplies if you’re faced with a long-term blackout and the only
way to pay for them will be cash.
Also, it’s better to have some cash with you in case of an emergency evacuation.
12.
Don’t let your pipes get cold.
If you’re left without heating during the winter months, there’s a possibility that
your pipes might burst because the water inside them expands when it freezes.
Usually, pipes are properly insulated in newer or recently updated houses.
But if your house is rather old, look for uninsulated pipes in your basement, garage,
or outside the building.
If you find them, wrap them up in old blankets or towels.
And keep a small stream of tap water running in your kitchen or bathroom to avoid freezing.
13.
Don’t come close to pooling water.
As I’ve already mentioned, many power outages are caused by storms.
Sometimes you’ll even find a new lake right in your backyard, or any other places near
your house.
But be careful and stay away from pooling water, because it can hide not only fallen
tree branches, but also power lines.
It’s better to stay inside till authorized work crews clear the area safely.
14.
Don’t grill indoors.
When the power goes out, one of the biggest issues is cooking, since electric stoves are
getting more and more popular.
This is when bringing the grill inside to enjoy your fav burgers or veggies during severe
weather seems like a perfect solution.
But it’s really dangerous since gas and charcoal grills produce fumes that are harmful
in a poorly ventilated area.
Keep the grills outside.
15.
Don’t keep a generator at home.
If you have a gasoline powered generator, then your chances of feeling pretty comfortable
during a blackout rise.
But it emits toxic carbon monoxide, so it should stay away from the house.
However, keeping it in your garage is also a mistake.
The garage is still a confined space and too close to your home, even if its door is open.
To be safe from the fumes, put the generator at least 20 feet from your home in the open
air.
Also, don’t forget to protect it from rain or snow using a tent or some other covering.
Ok, now you know what you shouldn’t do when the power goes out.
But what about useful tips that can help you survive the blackout?
Here my list!
Bust out board games.
This is the best way to have fun if you have to stay at home without electricity.
Do you know any other ways to entertain yourself during a power outage?
Let me know in the comments!
If the power outage caught you off guard, use your car to charge your phone or any other
mobile devices.
Cook the food you know might go bad soon without a properly working fridge.
Have a dozen or so of those small solar powered garden and sidewalk lights planted around
the outside of your house.
Once the power goes off, you can pull them up and bring them inside to provide light
at night, and return them outside to recharge them the next day!
Keep a battery-powered radio at home.
Cell phones might not last long enough during a long-term blackout.
But with a radio, you’ll be able to get updates about local news and weather condition.
If you live in a hot climate (or just have particularly hot summer) a battery-powered
fan will save you from the unbearable heat.
It works the best when placed in open windows to help circulate the air.
If your main issue is to stay warm, then choose one room in the house where you’re gonna
use alternative heating and close off all the others.
And wear several layers of clothes to preserve body temperature.
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