We have all had a time or two when the power unexpectedly goes out. Whether it is from a storm, ice accumulation, a pole being knocked down, or some other cause, it is never convenient! In this article, I will go over some simple things you can do to prepare for the next power outage.
Most of the time power outages only last a few hours. Those outages don't effect much except perhaps the TV schedule, air conditioning, and lighting. Outages that last more than a few hours can cause several inconveniences. Perhaps some of these ideas will make the next extended outage you experience, a bit less traumatic.
Water:
A vast majority of people who live outside city limits require electricity to have water. Most rural homes have water supplied from a well, this well requires electricity to power the pump that sends water to the house.
During an outage, the water supply stays in the ground, and therefore, alternative water supply is needed.
There are two types of water needed during a power outage, potable water and non-potable water. Potable water can be used for drinking, cooking and bathing. Non-potable can pretty well only be used for flushing the commode. An example of non-potable water is, water collected from a stream, rain water, or runoff from a roof. The use of untreated non-potable water for drinking, cooking or bathing is not recommended and can introduce harmful pathogens that can make you very sick.
If you do not have a good source of already stored potable water, then you can still acquire some. Cleaner looking non-potable water can be boiled and filtered to make it potable for drinking. Pour water through coffee filter into large pot. Bring water to a full rolling boil, and let it boil for at least one minute ( I typically boil for 5 minutes). Use a coffee filter to filter out any solid materials that may have been missed the first time, and I prefer to re-boil after filtering just for good measure. Store in clean container.
You can easily store your tap water in advance by using empty containers to have on hand in case of a power outage caused water shortage. I simply wash out the juice bottles we empty, and store clean tap water in them. They typically have a thicker plastic than empty water jugs, and since they are clear, you can see if there are any impurities in them. If, when you go to use it for potable use, there are any impurities in the water, simply purify by filtering and boiling.
Another method for potable water storage is to purchase a couple of extra cases of water. Whether you have an advance notice of bad weather coming in, or if you just pick a couple of extra cases to have on hand. It is always a good idea to have some extra bottled water ready for a drink!
You can also sterilize and can your own water in glass canning jars. If you already pressure can different foods, and if you have empty space in your canner, simply fill a jar with water and put a lid on it as though you were canning food. Process the jars of water along with the rest of the jars in the pressure canner. When you are done, you will have sterilized water which is good for drinking and washing things for first aid!
Food Storage:
When the power goes out for an extended length of time, often the food in the refrigerator and freezer can suffer great loss. There are a few things you can do to help.
Avoid opening the doors, every time the doors are opened, some of that cold air escapes and the inside gets warmer, faster.
If the outage is projected to last several days, a small generator is handy, you can hook up just these two appliances to help preserve the food inside. You don't have to let the generator run all the time, just a few hours a couple of times a day is sufficient to prevent food spoilage.
If you do not have a generator, and the outage happens in the winter with temperatures below 40'F, you can use your garage or storage shed to store your food in to help reduce the spoilage. If the outage happens in the summer, and it is safe to travel, you can purchase a cooler of ice and using a large bowl, simply keep the refrigerator cool with the large bowl of ice. Remember to avoid opening the door unless necessary to keep that cool air in!
Lighting:
Often times, when the power goes out, it happens after dark. This usually leaves you scrambling to find your cellphone or a flashlight. Although using a flashlight or the flashlight on your cellphone helps during a power outage, the batteries only last for so long. It is a good idea to have some alternatives to light your way.
Candles can be used for lighting, although I find they have a higher fire hazard due to unprotected flames. They do not offer light that illuminates very far, and children need to be very closely monitored with candles.
Oil lamps provide better lighting than a candle, partly due to the wider flame and the glass globe that is placed over that flame. Oil lamps have a slightly less hazard of starting a fire, the flame is protected but children still need to be very closely monitored.
Battery or solar powered lanterns are a great option for children. You do not need to worry about them starting a fire by dropping it, getting it too close to something, or burning themselves with it. They can go to their bedrooms to sleep or change clothes, and they can take it to light their way to the restroom without fear.
A great preventative measure to not having lights when the power goes out, is to have a solar backup. Just a couple of solar panels and batteries can offer you some power when the neighborhood goes dark.
Heating and Air Conditioning:
One major inconvenience when there is a power outage, is the lack of electric heating and air conditioning. This can make a power outage seem unbearable. If you are not one of the few who either live in a mild climate, or have wood heat, don't worry, there are a few things you can get in place to be prepared.
If the outage is in the summer, open windows on each side of the house. This will create a cross draft and a cooling effect. You can also dip a dish towel in water and use it to keep your neck and head moist. This will create an evaporation effect to make you feel cooler. Babies can overheat quickly, gently wiping them with a damp rag over their forehead and neck can help keep them cool. Stay hydrated as well, if it is hot and you are sweating, you will get dehydrated much quicker than normal.
If the outage is in the winter, it is a good idea to have alternate heating options ready. First, bundle up with an extra layer of clothing. If you put socks and shoes on, it will help insulate your feet and make the rest of your body a bit warmer as well. If possible, a kerosene or propane heater that is rated safe for use indoors is a great way to stay warm until your furnace can provide heat again. NEVER use a grill, or gas cookstove to heat your home even if you are desperate. Use of these can create a buildup of carbon monoxide which can be fatal.
Hygiene:
Without lights and running water, taking a hot bath or shower is out of the question, and you might be left wondering about other bathroom needs. Don't worry, there are things you can do!
For bathing, simply use two bowls, one for washing and one for rinsing and take a sponge bath. If possible, you can heat the water if desired for bathing. To conserve water, don't get a full sink worth of water, a half-gallon should be more than enough for one person to comfortably sponge bathe. To wash your hair, simply dunk your hair in the perspective bowls for washing and rinsing before you bathe your body (you might need to add more water afterwards).
To brush your teeth, use a small cup or glass to dip your toothbrush in, then you can use that same water to rinse out your mouth afterwards.
For the other necessary functions of the bathroom, there are a few options. If it has been raining, you can set some pans or buckets to catch rain water runoff from your roof for flushing. If you have children, this works best if you fill the water tank on the commode, otherwise you can just pour the water into the bowl for flushing. When my kids were little, we had a rule when the power was out, "If it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down". In other words, the commode doesn't have to be flushed with every single trip to the potty.
If there is no extra water for flushing the commode, and you do not have an outhouse, the next hygienic thing to do is to make a potty! You can use a five gallon bucket, a trash bag, and if you have it, a pool noodle to make a temporary commode to use until the power comes back on. If you have some kitty litter, that makes a great layering material to absorb smell and hide any evidence left behind.
Cooking:
If you have a gas stove, you might not need this section, however, if you have an electric stove, you know by now it won't work during an outage. This can leave your family hungry and irritable at dinner time. There are a few options to fix this as well!
If you have a grill and a cast iron skillet, you can cook just about anything on the grill, by using it as a stove top!
If you have a fire pit, the family might enjoy "roughing it" around the fire. Cast iron cookware can be used in campfires, and cast iron Dutch ovens can be used to bake in, using hot coals from the campfire.
Perhaps you have a camp stove, the kind with the little fuel tank, now is a great time to get it out and cook up a meal!
If you do not have either of these, you can improvise. A hobo stove is easily made with a tin soup can and some well placed holes. You can use either a tea light candle if the can is really short, or some small kindling size wood pieces for larger cans. Simply punch holes all the way around, about one inch above the bottom of the can, and do the same about one inch below the top of the can. Remove the top of the can so the flame can reach the pan being used. You don't want to use this indoors, and never leave it unattended. You can heat up a meal, or water for washing with this small stove.
I hope you found this article helpful, perhaps you gained some new ideas for the next time you experience a power outage.
Each situation is different and adaptions need to be made for each circumstance.
Please be safe with candles, lanterns and anything that has flame. Only use cooking and heating appliances rated for indoor use to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is odorless and tasteless, often it goes unnoticed until it is too late, so be careful!
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