10 Tips to Survive a Blackout

A power outage is more than an inconvenience; it can lead to expensive repairs and may even be dangerous to you and your family. These tips will help you protect yourself, your wallet and maintain some conveniences in a blackout.

Prepare for Power Surges

As utility companies work to restore power, the whole grid becomes unstable. And that leads to power surges, which can destroy electronics. So unplug and switch off everything in your home during a blackout. Leave one light on so you’ll know when the power is restored.

Bring Solar Lights Inside

Solar landscape lights provide hours of low-level lighting, so you can spare your flashlight batteries for tasks that require more light. And unlike candles, they won’t burn down your house. Don’t forget to set your landscape lights outside to recharge during the day during a blackout.

Beware of Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced whenever anything burns—and it often sickens or kills people during power outages. Don’t run generators or grills inside garages or outside near open windows. Make sure your carbon monoxide detector is working, and replace the batteries if needed.

Keep the Freezer Closed

In most freezers, food will stay frozen for one to three days and below 40 degrees F for another couple of days, which is helpful during a blackout. As a reminder, tape a “do not open” sign to the door.

Fill the Bathtub

When the lights go out, there’s a good chance that municipal water will stop flowing soon after. Fill the bathtub, sinks and buckets so you have a supply for washing, drinking and flushing the toilet. Also remember that you have 40 gallons or more stored in your water heater. Plus: Check out our favorite water storage containers here.

Release the Garage Door

Even with a dead opener during a blackout, you can still open and close the garage door. You’ll find a rope or cord hanging from the arm that connects the door to the opener rail. With the door in the closed position, yank that cord to disconnect the door from the opener and you’ll be able to raise or lower the door by hand.

Heat the House With Your Water Heater

Your furnace won’t work when the power goes out, but your water heater might (if it’s a gas model without power venting). Fill sinks and tubs with hot water and then drain them when the water reaches room temperature. This may not keep your home comfortable, but it may make it bearable.

Charge With Your Car

When it’s time to recharge your phone or tablet in a a blackout, don’t forget your car. The battery holds plenty of power to charge mobile devices.

Prepare for Freezing

If indoor temperatures are approaching freezing, avoid burst pipes by draining your plumbing system. Turn off the main water supply valve, open the lowest valve in the house (often the water heater drain valve or an outdoor hose bib). Then open other faucets to allow air into the system as pipes drain. Plunge toilets, sink and bath drains to clear water from the traps. Finally, plug those drains to keep sewer gases from rising into the house. Here are more tips for preventing frozen pipes.

Don’t Take Chances

Blackouts pose a double risk: You’re more likely to get hurt during a blackout and less likely to get immediate, thorough emergency care. You may fall down stairs in the dark or have a nasty chain saw accident during storm cleanup. If you need help, you may find that emergency rooms are swamped or ambulances are slowed by dead traffic lights or fallen trees. Even more than at other times, think before you act during a blackout.

Next, check out what you should have in your car winter survival kit:

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Build Your Own Winter Survival Kit

You probably already have a few of the items in this winter car survival kit in your garage but they, and few other things belong in the car! All you need to do is put them together in a box, in your car during winter for roadside emergencies. So equipped, you’ll be ready to deal with most winter roadside breakdowns, and avoid getting frostbite or freezing to death in the process! This is particularly true for those of you that live or drive through rural, sparsely populated areas where being stuck in a blizzard can cost you your life. Here are more tips for surviving a car breakdown in winter.

13 Things You Need in Your Winter Car Survival Kit:

Don’t get stranded out in the cold – make your own winter car survival kit.

Candle-Powered Heater

When your car is stuck or broke down in the winter, keeping it running to stay warm can be dicey. For one thing, you’ll eventually run out of gas (though your car can run for a few hours on a full tank) and you’ll need some fuel when help arrives to get your car moving again or when the weather clears up. But more importantly, snow and ice can block your engine’s exhaust and lead to deadly levels of carbon monoxide in the car’s cabin. So make sure you pack a simple candle-powered heater. All you need is a metal can, a candle and a lighter. A candle can make a surprisingly effective ad hoc heater in the confined space of a car. Check out another way to make a quick candle here.

Small LED Flashlight

Make sure your car kit contains a small LED flashlight with fresh batteries. Flashlights are a godsend for changing flats, or to see under the hood to find any quick fixes. And once the sun sets, you’ll want something to illuminate the interior of the cabin for writing down notes, phone numbers, etc. And in some cases, you can use the flashlight to signal oncoming cars or help a tow truck pinpoint your location. Find some to pick up at Amazon.

Cell Phone Car Charger

Cell phones are welcome lifelines when your car is stuck, but they’re only effective when they’re charged. So keep a spare cell phone charger in your survival kit to keep your phone charged up. Here are some best practices for winter driving. Check out a USB charger for the car at Amazon that lets you plug in a variety of devices. 

Notepad and Pen or Pencil

When you call for a tow, there are likely additional phone numbers a dispatcher will give you, as well as a possible incident number. Or if you’re in an accident, you’ll need the other drivers license and plate number. If your pen isn’t writing, it could be frozen, so warm it up between your hands. Or you can use a trusty pencil, too (though it might be harder to read in poor lighting). You can get some cheap notepads at Amazon.

Portable Air Compressor

Powered by the 12v outlet in your car, a portable air compressor doesn’t take up much space and can help fill low tires or more importantly fill a flat or low spare tire. Tire pressure-related tire failures are surprisingly common, so it’s always a good idea to check your tires regularly. Watch this video to learn how to check your tire pressure the right way. Check out a portable air compressor like this one from Black + Decker on Amazon.

Simple Tool Kit

There are a few roadside fixes that can be accomplished with some common tools. Pack a couple screwdrivers, pliers, an adjustable wrench and some duct tape. If you can get your car moving again and to a service station with a few Macgyver tricks, you may not only get home safe and sound, you’ll save yourself the cost of a tow. Check out this guide to troubleshooting a car that won’t start.

Safety Absorbent

A small bag of safety absorbent can help your car regain traction when you’re stuck on ice. Cat litter also works, but floor sweep absorbent works better. (Sold at auto parts stores, it’s sprinkled on garage floors before sweeping to absorb oil and grease.) Do you have 4-wheel-drive? Make sure you know how to use it, especially in winter. Brush up on the basics of 4-wheel-drive here. Pick up some safety absorbent on Amazon for less than $20.

Jumper Cables

You should never count on another motorist to have jumper cables for you to borrow—carry your own. They’re inexpensive and could mean the difference between a helpful motorist helping you get your car started or paying a tow truck to do it. Make sure you also know the right way to jumpstart your car. Learn how to jumpstart your car here. Check out a set of jumper cables available at Amazon for about $10.

Foldable Shovel

Digging out compacted snow from under the car or around the wheels is much easier with a proper shovel. Plus, using your hands, even in gloves, can cool you down fast. When you don’t have room for a full-size shovel (and really, who does?), the next best thing is a foldable shovel. You can pick them up online or in military surplus stores. Maybe the best tip, though, is becoming a better winter driver. Learn our best winter driving tips here. Grab yourself a foldable shovel that will help out a lot more than just your car at Amazon.

Fix-a-Flat

Sometimes, when you’re lucky, a can of fix-a-flat (or two cans for larger tires on SUVs and trucks) can get you back on the road without having to put on your spare (which can be a real hassle in the cold). Remember, fix-a-flat isn’t intended to be a permanent solution, just a stopgap measure until you can find a tire shop. But fix-a-flat has to be warm to dispense. So either keep it in the cab or warm it over the defroster before using. Learn more about fixing flat tires here. Plus: Check out a handful of other car additives that could save you from costly repairs. Pick up a can of Fix-a-Flat online at Amazon.

First Aid Kit

Keep the essentials in your car—including spare medications if you need them—to make sure you can stay alert while you’re waiting. Brush up on your first aid skills so you’re ready if the situation calls for something more than a bandage. Find a first aid kit at Amazon.

Warm Hat and Gloves

Staying warm is the most important survival tactic when you’re stranded in the winter. It’s always a good idea to have an extra hat and gloves so you (or an under-clothed guest) can keep warm while getting your car out of a ditch, changing a tire or taking a look under the hood.

Warm Blanket

It could be a while before help arrives, so you need to keep warm. A spare blanket will help you do just that. Keep in mind it’s likely to get dirty, so choose an old comforter or quilt. Next, check out the top 10 things you should never, ever do to your car.

Pack it All Up

Put everything into a sturdy box or plastic bin and pop it in the trunk or back seat. Hopefully you’ll never need to use it, but you’ll be thankful you have your winter emergency car kit if you do find yourself stranded.

Check out these things to NEVER do while driving.

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