Plan of Action: When the Power Goes Out

We are so used to having electricity at all times that when it goes out, the reactions can range from mild annoyance to outright panic. Even as a 39 year old woman, I tended toward moments of mild panic whenever it went out. I really dislike feeling helpless (who doesn’t?) and decided I would do something about it.

Living in the Southeast “Panhandle” of Alaska, we get some ripper storms in the Fall and Winter. Sustained winds of 50-60 mph with gusts up to 80+ is not uncommon. In fact, I never understood how wind could do so much damage or what a straight line wind was until I moved to Kansas and then Missouri for a few years. Our terrain here is covered in trees, hills, valleys, mountains, and of course the ocean and lakes. There is plenty to break up those higher winds. That is not to say we don’t get damaged property from these storms; it’s just nothing compared to the flat lands of the Midwest. When I was a kid, power outages were just no big deal. It used to be a local joke around the island about the power going out every Thanksgiving because of so many people cooking at the same time, not to mention the inevitable storm and sideways rain blowing outside.

Things have improved greatly since then and power outages are rarer which only makes me more concerned when they actually go out. I needed a plan of action, something to do so I could focus my nervous energy (and lack of being able to really do anything I normally do) into something productive. I talked to the Mister and we came up with some sound action steps to take when at home and the power goes out.

• Candles and Flashlights. We have candles and flashlights around the house as a norm. When the power goes out, we grab our container with extra long burning candles and flashlights that are only used during this event. We keep the batteries out of the flashlights until we intend to use them to avoid corrosion. We also trim and clean the candles after they have cooled (recycling the wax for a future candle) to keep the container clean.
• Top Off the Water. We have 2 dogs and 2 cats. When the power goes out, the water pumps are still working so we make sure to fill their water dispensers. We also check to make sure that we have our emergency water in order (for both us and the pets!).
• Evaluate the Food. Most people generally know what is in their fridge and freezer without having to look. We talk about what we know is in there and consider what may need to be consumed immediately. Depending on what time of day it is, we plan our meals to consume everything we can in the fridge first and do our best to limit how often we open the door. You never really know how long the power will be out for and it is better to over plan an unlikely event than be caught hungry with only rotting food available.
• Consider the Heat. Again, this depends on the time of year. In our cooler climate, we may make a “warm room” and block everything else off to conserve heat. We have an indoor propane heater but it is amazing how much heat a few candles can put off in an insulated room. If is high Summer and you are in a warmer climate, opening doors and windows for air flow is the first step. Your vehicle is another way to help cool off but that can be expensive and unrealistic. There are solar powered fans available for a reasonable price but if you simply cannot do anything other than suffer; stay in the shade and keep hydrated!
• Assess the Extent. Warning: This may be a little over the top for some of my readers out there. Some may call it paranoia but when the power goes out, I always try to figure out the cause. If it isn’t something obvious like a storm, I check other electronics to make sure they work (namely the cell phone haha). If it turns on and I can send a text, I am OK. If for some far fetched reason it does not after a few hours or all electronics aren’t working, even with power from a solar charger? I have a different set of steps such as opening and filling the Water Bob in the tub and getting food defrosting so I can jar it up on the propane stove in the pressure canner. Yeah, I know…a little paranoid but I counter the judgements with this question: Would you rather be the person taking action or the guy standing there in shock or worse – expecting the local authorities to swoop in and save you? I prefer to have a plan to take action with instead of being the deer in the headlights.

I think these are steps that will benefit absolutely everyone who deals with a power outage. It is proactive and easy to do. Once you have worked through the list, chances are you will be able to think more clearly and the feelings of panic have passed. You got this, you can handle it. Mankind lived a heck of a lot longer without electricity than he has with it. By following these steps, I am set to get through the initial round and have the time to think about the next steps should the outage be for an extended time. Do you have a plan similar?  Comment below or head back to my Facebook page and comment there!