Yesterday we had a 12-hour power outage on my block due to windy rain storms on Saturday night. A transformer blew up and the power company (PG&E) literally climbed up the power pole across the street and snipped the lines. The life got sucked out of all the home appliances. It was like a strange sci-fi movie. Everything went eerily quiet.
We are used to this occurrence. Losing electrical power happens on an annual basis for our neighborhood. It’s inconvenient but we have a routine for temporarily living off the power grid without suffering much.
Here are some tips, which I hope you’ll add to:
- Keep a cheapie, old-fashioned telephone on hand – the kind with a handset and cord. They’re about $10 and you can still call someone if there’s no electricity. Fancy phones are useless in a power shortage.
- Charge up mobile phones and portable devices if you know a bad storm is coming. I was using my iPhone to answer emails and tweet.
- About 30 minutes after the power goes out, call the power company’s status hot line to find out how long you’re expected to go without. If the recording is “be prepared for an extended period without power” go into emergency survival mode.
- Take a hot shower (rejoice in the availability of water!) and don multiple layers of clothing. My husband wore 2 pairs of socks yesterday! I sported fleece-lined pants, 2 shirts, a jacket and wool socks.
- Get the fireplace going, if you have one. The furnace won’t work.
- Before sundown, get the candles and flashlights out. It will be getting very dark and super quiet soon.
Food, drink, cooking
- Stash an emergency supply of ground coffee in the freezer allows you to make a cup of coffee and maintain a semblance of normalcy.
- Run to the store and lay in a supply of fun food. Eat things that are personal splurges, such as potato chips, cookies, etc. Go off your diet for a spell.
- Use a match or lighter (keep multiple wand lighters on hand) to operate gas stoves. Old school stoves will light but modern ones need help. If you have electric or induction, you’re unfortunately out of luck; spend the day or night at a friend’s house.
- Think of the stove, if you can get it going, as a tiny fireplace/furnace. Cook a pot of food to benefit from (1) the physical exercise of cooking, (2) the heat that radiates from the pot, and (3) having something to eat.
- Cook food that makes you think of sunny, bright times. Last night, we made fish tacos and ate a Chinese hot pot.
- Drink wine or better yet, liquor. Red wine and tequila were our choices yesterday. I also made some relaxing chamomile tea.
Thank the power company when they turn the switch back on! The photo above is from 10:30pm last night.
Be grateful that the power was off for just a short time. Life is back to normal. (Going without water is a horse of a different color.)
khanh says
You're not out of luck if you have a gas stove. You may want to think about whether you have alternative sources. I have a camping stove or one of those butane burners that I use for sukiyaki. I also have a propane tank that can be attached to one of those restaurant style wok burners. Just remember to have fuel on hand!
Wendy Tien says
If you are reasonably sure your power will be restored within 24h, don't open the refrigerator or freezer if you can help it. Keeping them closed may allow them to stay insulated well enough to preserve your food at a safe temperature, especially in winter, although refrigerated items should be tested with a thermometer and discarded if over 40f. If you are reasonably sure your outage will last longer than 24h, try to cook anything perishable in the refrigerator. As the previous poster notes, gas stoves do not require electricity ( although some have electric starters). The freezer may keep food safe up to 48h in winter. And some items can be salvaged even if things go pear-shaped ... Many condiments with a high sugar or salt content will not spoil that quickly.
And drinking takes the edge off!
Mary says
We barbequed last year's Christmas "dinner" in the middle of an ice storm (while my new gas stove sat in the garage, not yet hooked up). BTW, in truly cold climes, if you haven't run to the shops before the storm begins, forget it. Also, don't run the shower; leave water dripping to help prevent pipes from freezing (your tropical roots are showing, Andrea!) We keep a stash of glow-lights, the kind kids snap to light, on hand for the kids. A few act as night lights, others lead the way to the bathroom for midnight potty runs. When we still had no electricity for three days last Christmas, we were able to get into my office, where there was electricity, charged up our cells phones and cooked a huge crock pot meal to serve up hot food for ourselves and the neighbors. Oh, and don't light a big wood fire unless you are sure you have a clean chimney! A few people in our area lost their homes last Christmas when the ice storm brought down trees and the fire trucks couldn't get in to save the houses from chimney fires. This year I have my gas stove and a gas log in the fireplace, so bring it, winter!
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Mary says
In a good snow or ice storm (temps below 32F), everything in your fridge or freezer will keep just fine out on the back deck -- for days!. Camping lanterns are better long-term than candles.
I need to move to the Bahamas.
MaryBeth Matthews says
Good advice. In Florida we would lose power in the summer due to tropical storms or hurricanes. That type of preparation is similar, but I would rather try to keep warm for a few days than not to have air conditioning during a tropical heat wave. The heat is more intense and steamy after the storms. I would also recommend to have a cooler handy with ice if you think the power will be off for awhile. That way you can try to save perishable foods. I have a cooler that's supposed to keep ice in it for 72 hours. It's humungeous, but it works.
Andrea Nguyen says
My god you people are well prepared! I felt a bit wimpy about living in a moderate climate like Cali's. Greatly appreciate your survival tips!
Thuy says
I also live in Florida, but I have been fortunate the last 13 years not to go without electricity for more than 2 hours (even after hurricanes). The winters are mild but the summers are torture. I stockpile charcoal and water over the winter to prepare for any instances because I don't feel like getting run over in the stores rushing for neccesities when pending threat of storms. I have thought about getting a manual hand phone chargers to stay in contact with people but that is useless in a major storm because the cell towers are usually out too. I really do need to go buy a gas generator to keep my fridge going but they cost soooo much.
Kristen | Menuism says
Ack, as a new resident to Earthquake central (or California, as everyone else knows it), this is the thought that's constantly on my brain! With the electric stove, I think the best bet is to get a grill. SO would not have thought of the tea - that might be my first move in a power outage so I can relax!
Carolyn Jung says
OMG!! Poor you guys. But sounds like you not only made the best of the situation, but made it into something actually fun and adventurous. You are so resourceful. Happy holidays to you!!
Andrea Nguyen says
Oh, I lived through the Northridge earthquake. Turn off the gas, collect water, then eat from your freezer, drink from your wine collection. Seriously. Hang on for the after shocks.
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The winters are mild but the summers are torture. I stockpile charcoal and water over the winter to prepare for any instances because I don't feel like getting run over in the stores rushing for neccesities when pending threat of storms.