{"id":103,"date":"2026-06-03T12:38:39","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T12:38:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/preppingdad.nl\/?p=4"},"modified":"2026-06-03T12:38:39","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T12:38:39","slug":"what-to-do-during-a-power-outage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/preppingdad.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/03\/what-to-do-during-a-power-outage\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Do During a Power Outage"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Before the Power Goes Out<\/h2>\n<p>Power outages can happen during storms, grid overloads or equipment failures.  To reduce inconvenience and stay safe, prepare before the lights go out.  Protect sensitive electronics with surge protectors and unplug them when storms approach.  Charge phones and power banks.  Assemble an emergency kit including water, non\u2011perishable food, a weather radio, flashlights and a first\u2011aid kit\u3010101173867797014\u2020L120-L136\u3011.  Avoid using candles to reduce fire risk\u2014flashlights or LED lanterns are safer.<\/p>\n<h2>Recognising a Power Outage<\/h2>\n<p>If your lights flicker or go dark, determine whether the outage is isolated to your home.  Check whether neighbours still have power and inspect your circuit breaker.  Confirm that your utility bill is paid.  If you suspect a neighbourhood outage, report it to your utility provider\u3010101173867797014\u2020L105-L118\u3011.<\/p>\n<h2>Staying Safe During the Outage<\/h2>\n<p>During an outage:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Keep doors and windows closed<\/strong> to maintain indoor temperature. Stay hydrated and drink water regularly\u3010101173867797014\u2020L155-L166\u3011.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use your emergency kit<\/strong> for food, water and light.  Access news through a battery\u2011powered or crank weather radio.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Unplug appliances and electronics<\/strong> to protect them from power surges when electricity returns.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Operate generators outdoors<\/strong>, at least 20\u00a0feet from your home to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning\u3010101173867797014\u2020L120-L136\u3011.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>After Power Is Restored<\/h2>\n<p>When electricity returns, follow these steps:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Check refrigerated and frozen foods<\/strong>: Discard perishables that have been above 40\u00a0\u00b0F (4\u00a0\u00b0C) for more than two hours\u3010101173867797014\u2020L168-L177\u3011.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Inspect medications<\/strong>: Some require refrigeration; consult your pharmacist if in doubt\u3010101173867797014\u2020L168-L177\u3011.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Replenish supplies<\/strong>: Replace used batteries, canned goods and fuel to be ready for the next outage\u3010101173867797014\u2020L168-L177\u3011.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Report downed power lines<\/strong> or damage to authorities\u3010101173867797014\u2020L138-L153\u3011.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Long\u2011Term Preparedness<\/h2>\n<p>Invest in a generator or solar battery system to keep essential appliances running during prolonged outages.  Ensure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors have battery backups.  Consider installing surge protection for your entire home.  Finally, review and update your emergency plan annually to reflect family changes, new medical needs or different living arrangements.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Before the Power Goes Out Power outages can happen during storms, grid overloads or equipment failures. To reduce inconvenience and stay safe, prepare before the lights go out. Protect sensitive electronics with surge protectors and unplug them when storms approach. Charge phones and power banks. Assemble an emergency kit including water, non\u2011perishable food, a weather [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-103","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-stroomuitval"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/preppingdad.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/preppingdad.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/preppingdad.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/preppingdad.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/preppingdad.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=103"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/preppingdad.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/preppingdad.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=103"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/preppingdad.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=103"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/preppingdad.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=103"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}