4 Essentials for A Long Term Emergency Power Outage [Infographic]
Power outages can severely disrupt our everyday lives when the supply is interrupted.
Powerful hurricanes, intense thunderstorms, and downed power lines can lead to homes losing electricity so whether or not you live in a natural disaster zone, it is essential you and your family need an extensive emergency preparedness kit.
There are a few necessities that cover a variety of use cases ranging from mild inconveniences to worst-case scenarios that require basic emergency supplies for you and your family.
Food
When the power is out for an extended period, expect that the store shelves emptied out within hours of the power outage with slow restocking timelines. Storing long-term food in the pantry is crucial in these situations. This would help reduce some of the inevitable stress that comes with losing power.
Long before the power outage, ensure the pantries are well stocked with non-perishable food items that are easy to prepare. The food supply should not rely on refrigeration unless you have a generator at your disposal.
Ideally, food with a longer shelf life such as canned goods, dry, snacks, drinks, and pet food for the furry family members should fill the emergency food supply. Although, remember to periodically rotate the supply to avoid expired food.
You can put additional items during your regular grocery shopping and put them in your cupboard as backup reserves, but if you think this all seems like a lot of extra work and effort, you can always buy an emergency food kit. Experts have designed these all-in-one kits to be long lasting while giving you a balanced and nutritious diet.
Water
Water is essential. A family needs at least a gallon of water per person every day to function during an emergency as well as reserves of water for cooking, hygiene, and even pets.
It’s always a smart idea to keep a case of drinking water in your basement or garage and conserve as much as possible. However, keep in mind that you can use way more water than you think, and it can run out before you know it.
Watch out for the expiration dates on bottled water as the water itself doesn’t expire on its own but water might absorb chemicals from the bottle making it undrinkable.
If the supply runs out, there are other ways to get water during an emergency if you’ll be sourcing it from nature. You can purchase a water purifier, purification tablets, boil it, or find other DIY techniques.
First aid kit
Most homes have a supply of first-aid kits, but it is often depleted before a serious emergency. If kits are often used as the go-to for minor injuries, make sure to replenish the supply.
Building your own first aid kit from scratch may be better as the supplies are more suited to your most common situation. Although, make sure you have enough supplies that will handle most medical emergencies. In particular, it’s a good idea to have plenty of bandages, antiseptic wipes, scissors, antibiotic and burn ointment, saline solution, thermometer, and a few other basic items.
You also need to include pain relief medication, anti-diarrhea medications, and extra prescription medications.
Light Sources
The goal during an emergency is to remain healthy and injury-free, but that is difficult if you are scurrying around in the dark.
Most people turn to flashlights and candles to illuminate their homes when the lights go out.
Candles are a widely popular choice since they’re inexpensive, but keep in mind that candles can be dangerous especially when there are children in the house. A small mistake or oversight can lead to damaging fires in an already testing situation.
A battery-operated lantern or LED flashlights produce more light, last longer, and consume less power. without worrying about the house burning down. A downside is when the batteries eventually run out with no way to charge the battery.
While flashlights, lanterns, and candles have always been reliable, think about investing in durable light sources that won’t have to rely on batteries.
As solar lanterns store energy from the sun, it doesn’t mean it stops working after the sun sets. It can automatically recharge during the day and utilized during low light.
This means that you won’t have to hunt for batteries, find propane, or worry about burning anything down.
Many are entirely dependent on living with electricity and living without power for an extended period is unpleasant to experience. However, life still has to go on even after a power outage. You just have to ensure that you and your family can get through an emergency by preparing long before it should ever happen.
Losing power doesn’t mean living in the dark. Ensure that you have enough light in your household with solar-powered lanterns that are portable and built to last.
d.light is dedicated to providing the most reliable, affordable and accessible solar lighting and power systems. Visit our website today at www.dlight.com to learn more.
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