Home & Garden, Property

What to buy to prepare for a power cut

What to buy to prepare for a power cut

The energy crisis is making us think more and more about the energy we use and how we use it. This is also a considerable concern for the government, which has even admitted that the worst-case scenario this winter could be scheduled power cuts to save on energy. Albeit this is a very worst-case scenario and unlikely to happen, how prepared would you be for a long-term power cut?

If you live in a place where the weather is temperamental, then it’s always a good idea to prepare for the worst with or without the energy crisis. I live in Cumbria, England, where we have four seasons in a single day, so it’s not surprising that we’ve had more than our fair share of power cuts. Power Cuts are tough to supply during the event and are best off being prepared for rather than having to be reactive.

So this post is just a few little tips of items you may find useful to have in the event of losing power.



A hand-cranked radio

A hand-cranked radio is a good way to stay informed in an emergency, as well as provide entertainment. They’re not as expensive as they used to be and can be used for listening to the news, weather reports and music. Hand-cranked radios are also cheaper than solar panels and batteries, so if you don’t have an alternative power source already in place, this could be worth investing in.

Hand-cranked radios aren’t just useful when there’s a power cut; they can also come in handy if your phone runs out of battery while you’re out on a camping trip or hiking through the woods (or even just going for a walk).

An LED lantern or torch

LED lanterns are safer than candles. They don’t emit the same amount of CO2 as candles, and they can be charged by hand cranking, solar panel, a USB port or even car chargers. They are an essential item for any SOS kit, so maybe get a couple and keep one for the car and another spare for when you are camping or even out dog walking.

Candles and lighters or Matches

It is a good idea to keep a stash of candles as an if all else fails method for keeping your home moderately lit in a power cut. Alongside these, make sure you have plenty of matches, lighters or both stored away, as these will be needed to light your gas hobs or oven/grill if you have one.

A camp stove

A camp stove is a portable, easy-to-use cooking device that can help you cook food when there’s no power. Camp stoves are relatively cheap and can be used to boil water or cook food. You may want to look into buying a camping stove if you haven’t already because they’re an essential item that could come in handy during times of power outages or natural disasters like storms and particularly wintery weather. If you’re worried about the cost, though, don’t worry—there are ways around this, such as finding cheap ones at online or car boot sales as well as getting them secondhand from friends who’ve used theirs already.

A power bank

A power bank is a portable charger which can charge your phone, laptop and tablet when there’s no electricity. It has a bigger capacity than your device’s battery. If you’re going away for the weekend or even just to work and don’t want to take a heavy laptop charger with you, then this is ideal.

A first aid kit

You can always add to your first aid kit as you discover new needs. It’s essential to make sure you always have the basics on hand, though.

  • Bandages (assorted sizes)
  • Gauze pads in various sizes
  • Adhesive tape and scissors
  • Hypoallergenic adhesive tape (for sensitive skin)
  • Moleskin and bandage strips/ Tegaderm dressing tapes (for more significant wounds)

In addition to these items, it also pays to have some medications on hand.

Morale boosting items

One of the hardest things in a power-cut is keeping everyone entertained, especially if you have small children. To tackle this, make sure you have plenty of board games, colouring books and a pack of cards to keep the mood up.



Other things to prepare for

British gas also recommends the following in their article about preparing for a power cut.

Stay warm

Unless you have a wood-burning fire, a power cut will also mean no heating. So here’s how you can heat your home safely while you wait:
  • If any sockets are working, use portable heat sources such as electric heaters. Remember to keep any heating appliance uncovered and at least a metre away from your furnishings and curtains
  • Keep doors and windows closed, including internal doors. This is to try to trap the heat in one or two rooms
  • Block draughts by fitting draught excluders, or rolling a towel and wedging it under your door
  • Dress warmly, layering up with cotton, wool or fleece. If it’s really chilly indoors you might benefit from outdoor clothes too, such as a coat, hat and scarf
  • Blankets and sleeping bags may come in handy if you’re in it for the long-haul

Prepare your fridge and freezer

  • Buy appliance thermometers for both your fridge and freezer to check that they stay safe during a power cut (-18°C for freezers and 4°C for fridges)
  • Keep some bagged or dry ice at home
  • Freeze “danger” leftovers like milk, meat and poultry. If you find yourself without power they’ll last longer.

Protect sensitive electrical equipment

Power surge plugs are a good idea for valuable electrical appliances. They’re relatively inexpensive and you can find them at most electrical retailers. Keep your computer backed up regularly too, just in case.

Check whether vulnerable neighbours have a power cut plan

You might also want to pop in on them if there’s a blackout, just to make sure they don’t need any urgent help.

Buy these things to get prepared for a power cut.

  • Buy these things to get prepared for a power cut.
  • A generator is a must-have if you want your lights to stay on when there’s no electricity. Keep one in your garage or shed and make sure it’s checked regularly so it can be used when needed most.
  • A hand-cranked radio will charge up your phone if you need it—or keep you entertained while the kettle boils for tea! Choose one with an emergency light and radio antenna so that you can hear updates from authorities about what’s happening around you, too.
  • You won’t be able to cook on electric stoves during a power cut, so stock up on camping equipment like camp stoves and fuel tablets. We recommend having at least two litres of water ready per person per day in case supplies run low after an outage; fill up bottles now, so they don’t go missing during an emergency, and don’t forget to change the water every six months if you are bottling it from the tap. (Unopened bottled water will last far longer without spoiling, especially if kept away from direct Sunlight)

We hope that this article has helped you to prepare for the worst. A power cut can be a real inconvenience, but if you’re prepared it won’t be too much of an issue. Make sure you have all the things we discussed here so that when it happens, you won’t even notice!



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