Surviving Without Electricity⚓︎

Summary⚓︎

It might sound unusual or unnatural to live without electricity in the modern world. After all, electrical items are such a central part of our lives. However, it's not impossible to live without electricity, whether for a day or an extended period.

I'm going to break this article up into two sections - one focusing more on a power outage, while the other will discuss going off the grid. This article will focus on getting through a power outage.

Attention

As with all of the articles in this series, this is by no means a comprehensive guide. It should be considered a practical approach.

Power Outage⚓︎

Preparing for a Power Outage⚓︎

While power outages never occur at a convenient time, it's always possible to prepare for one. The following are ways to prepare for a power outage.

Make an Emergency Kit⚓︎

Aside from having things like water and non-perishable foods, there are other basics that every household should have in their kit. These items include:

Essentials

Flashlight
Extra batteries
Multi-purpose tool (Swiss Army knife)
Manual can opener
Seven days worth of medications
Sanitation items
Extra cash
Portable radio
Emergency blanket

You should also make copies of your documents. These include medical information, passport, proof of address, and birth certificate. Have a map of the area and a list of emergency contacts.

First Aid Kit⚓︎

You should always have a first aid kit on hand since you never know what might happen during a power outage. You can buy first aid kits that come fully stocked or put your own together.

Store Water In Your House⚓︎

The Red Cross suggests stockpiling at least a gallon of water per person per day. If possible, get enough water to last you a week at a minimum. For example, if you're a family of three, that would mean purchasing 21 gallons of water.

Tip

If you can't purchase this much water or think your water might become compromised in an emergency, you can also purify water. While the most common way would be to boil water over a fire, additional methods can be found here.

Store Non-Perishable Food⚓︎

These items should be easy to make or take no preparation at all. If you don't have access to a heat source, you should mostly stockpile non-perishables.

Needs to be Cooked

Canned Soup
Macaroni and Cheese

Doesn't Need to be Cooked

Canned nuts
Canned vegetables and fruits
Peanut butter
Granola bars
Crackers and chips
Canned meats
Pre-packaged pudding
Unopened bottles of juice

Keep Track of Family Members⚓︎

If the power goes out or you find yourself in an emergency, call your family members before your phone dies.

Entertainment⚓︎

Since you won't be able to use your TV, computer or any electrical item, you'll need to find entertainment for yourself. If you have lanterns or candles, set one up on a table so everyone can gather around to read, play games or talk. It's good to keep in mind that you shouldn't waste your flashlight batteries on a book at night.

Lighting and Heating⚓︎

Alternative Light Sources⚓︎

Having an alternative light source is essential during a power outage. These can include:

Flashlights
Camping Lanterns
Candles

Always keep your flashlights where they can be found quickly in the dark. Candles are great because they can last a long time and don't require a battery. Lanterns are especially helpful when going about daily life in the dark.

Heating⚓︎

Figuring out what to do for heating is incredibly important before a power outage. Stockpile wood if you have a fireplace. Close off any unoccupied rooms so whatever heat you have doesn't spread throughout the house.

Another alternative could be to invest in a kerosine heater. While these heaters will warm up the house, they must be near a vent, or else they could lead to a buildup of carbon monoxide.

Car⚓︎

Use a car to charge necessary electronics. Electronics can be charged by the cigarette lighter in your car since it's connected to the car battery.

Cooking⚓︎

Keep Perishables in Your Fridge Cold⚓︎

The best way to do this is by purchasing a block of dry ice, wrapping it in a newspaper, and placing it in your fridge. Find out where to buy dry ice in case of an emergency.

Open your fridge and freezer only when necessary. You can also cover your fridge and freezer with thick blankets to keep the temperature inside down. Just make sure that the blankets don't cover any vents.

Cook Perishable Foods First⚓︎

Before eating any non-perishable foods, consider eating the perishable food first.

Important

Only do this on the first day of a blackout as most refrigerated food sitting in temperatures above 40ºF (4.4ºC) for longer than two hours can cause illness. The only exceptions to this rule are hard cheeses, processed cheese, fresh fruits and vegetables, butter/margarine, and bread.

Cook on a Gas Stove⚓︎

If you're lucky enough to have a gas stove during a power outage, then you should have no issues when it comes to cooking your food. You'll have to light the ranges by hand, but other than that, there should be no further issues.