Power cuts are very common. In some places, they are an inevitable part of winter. Ensure your safety and comfort by learning how to prepare for winter power outages.
We talked to energy and preparedness experts to help you prepare for the upcoming winter power outages.
meet the expert
- Christian Schaaf is the CEO and Founder of Uncharted Supply Company.
- hugh simpson is a preparation consultant and founder of Valentine International.
- cameron macdonald Vice President of Merchandising, Planning and Inventory at Batteries Plus.
stock up on emergency food
“A good supply of non-perishable items is always good,” says Christian Schaaf, CEO of survival goods company Uncharted Supply Co. Shoaf favors peanut butter, freeze-dried foods, canned foods, soups and nuts.
During power outages it is important to purchase foods that will not need to be cooked or heated Deborah Foley of Solar Review,
“If you have an electric stove or microwave, you won’t be able to use them during a power outage, making it difficult to heat or cook food.”
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collect first aid supplies
Stay healthy with first aid supplies during power cuts. Red Cross recommends 20 essential items to build a four-person first aid kit.
stock of essential medicines
Christian Schoff says that keep stock of essential medicines also.
“If they need cooling, like insulin, you should have a backup plan,” says Shoaf.
any necessary medicines Food you or others consume regularly should be individually labeled. Take them out of the cycle occasionally to keep them fresh. Talk to your doctor about getting extra medications for emergencies.
assemble portable lights
Portable, battery-powered light sources help you find your way at night. They are safer than candles and provide better light.
Survival expert Hugh Simpson keeps a dozen flashlights, including a lantern-style battery light, fully charged at all times.
Christian Schoff keeps a solar-powered flashlight on his windowsill.
“It’s an easy way to make sure you have a light and it’s charged,” he says.
Store Backup Batteries
Make sure you have a plenty of backup batteries, says Simpson. You will want to store backup batteries separately from your regular stock of daily use batteries.
Alkaline batteries like AA, AAA, and others should be a staple in your home, says Cameron McDonald, vice president of merchandising, planning and inventory at Batteries Plus.
“Make sure you have enough batteries, that they are fresh and not damaged, and that they can be easily recovered in case of a power outage.”
buy power bank
A power bank ensures that you can power essential electronic devices during a power outage.
A power bank replenishes the battery in your smartphone, tablet or laptop. It connects to your device with a USB cord and charges multiple devices simultaneously.
Consider the Whole Home Battery
McDonald says whole home battery backup is a great alternative to a generator, especially when paired with solar panels.
“It recharges directly from solar panels, safely and quietly powering your entire home or critical circuits to ensure energy security.”
Purchasing a whole home battery is a significant investment. you will need this Hire a Licensed Electrician Whole home battery installation experience.
maintain your generator
keep your parent Well maintained and full of fresh fuel.
“If your generator uses gasoline, you should make sure you only use fresh gasoline,” says McDonald.
Fuel goes rancid after about three months of storage. Propane does not degrade like gasoline and can be stored for a long time.
install solar panels
The preparedness experts we spoke to universally recommend installing solar panels to protect against power outages in the winter. Solar panels with battery storage collect excess solar energy when grid power is not available.
“With battery storage, homeowners can store energy before or during these events to ensure they have power when they need it most,” says Deborah Foley of Solar Reviews.
collect warm clothes
When the power goes out, your heating system may also stop working. Electric and gas furnaces, heat pumps, baseboard heaters, and wall heaters are electric.
Have clean, warm clothes, thick blankets, and quilts on hand so you can layer up when your heating system stops working.
Fill up with gas or charge an EV
During power cuts in winter, gas station pumps and EV chargers stop working. Your travel range will be limited by the amount of gas or level of charge.
Therefore, at early warnings of a winter storm, fill all vehicle tanks with fuel. Keep electric vehicles on the charger.
practice for outages
Do you? In fact Ready for winter break? If you think so, challenge yourself for a day.
Preparedness expert Hugh Simpson recommends turning off your main breaker electrical service panel for 24 hours and try out your survival system and products. Choose a night when you don’t have work or school the next day.
