“Preparedness for crises is not an attempt to predict when a disaster will occur. It is simply a way to reduce dependence on circumstances at a time when regular services are temporarily unavailable,” says Egidijus Baltramaitis, senior specialist of the Civil Safety Department at the Šiauliai Fire and Rescue Board.
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So what do civil safety specialists advise and will our households ensure the most important needs for at least 72 hours?
Since a person cannot survive without air, water, and food, the home and the supplies accumulated in it should be prepared so that this time can be managed independently.
When the power goes out, not only the lights go off – the home’s “heart” stops too
Many people first think of a power outage as an inconvenience when the lights go out at home. However, electricity powers many more devices important for daily life. The refrigerator, electric stove, water well, heating boiler, or water pump – all these devices stop working. It is also impossible to charge a mobile phone, turn on the TV, or use other devices. These are just some of the difficulties residents may face during a prolonged power outage. Therefore, it is worth assessing in advance which devices in your home are critically important and arranging for an alternative power source.
Generator or power bank?
“Generators and power banks solve slightly different problems, so the choice depends on how long you expect to be without electricity and which devices must be kept running,” says E. Baltramaitis.
First, you should list critical devices. These may include the refrigerator and freezer, automation of a gas or pellet boiler and circulation pumps, water pump, internet modem or router, several lights, phone and computer chargers, as well as medical equipment if needed. It is not necessary to power the entire house – often it is much more rational to ensure only the operation of the most important electrical devices.
A power bank can be convenient for shorter and more frequent power outages: it operates quietly, can be used immediately, and does not require fuel reserves.
A generator is preferable when longer power outages are expected – for example, several days or even longer.
However, it is important not only to choose the right device but also to ensure its safe connection to the home electrical system in advance.
It is worth preparing the electrical input in advance
When the power goes out, you should not improvise and try to power the home electrical network with a generator through a regular wall socket. A generator must never be connected in a way that could feed electricity back into the public power grid.
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If you want to power separate home electrical circuits, an electrician should install a separate backup power panel for critical circuits in advance, a suitable network and generator switch or automatic transfer system, necessary protections and grounding, and clearly mark the circuits. In this case, when the power goes out, you won’t have to search in the dark for what and where to connect – the system will be prepared in advance.
If a power bank is chosen, it is important to pay attention not only to its capacity, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), but also to the allowable output power (kW). A refrigerator, water pump, or other motor may briefly require much more power at startup.
It is also important to periodically check whether the entire system actually works. It is necessary to know that a running generator emits carbon monoxide, so it cannot be used in a garage, basement, balcony, or other enclosed or semi-enclosed space. Connect it only outdoors, in a well-ventilated area, away from doors, windows, and ventilation openings.
“It is also worth having a ‘no electricity’ kit: LED flashlights, batteries, charged external batteries (Power Bank), a radio receiver, candles or lamps, and necessary device charging cables,” emphasizes E. Baltramaitis.
When communication is lost, the most important thing is to have an alternative
Another problem often not considered is communication. If mobile or internet connections fail, usual ways of receiving information and contacting others become unavailable. “Therefore, it is important to have not just one but several independent ways of receiving information,” stresses E. Baltramaitis. One of the most reliable tools is a battery- or accumulator-powered radio receiver. It is also worth preparing charged external batteries in advance and writing down the phone numbers and addresses of the most important relatives on paper.
Preparation begins not when a disaster happens
“Each person must personally decide what to have at home. Specialists can advise, but you know your needs best,” says E. Baltramaitis.
What could every household do today? Write down the most important needs, check existing supplies, and assess whether the family could independently manage water, food, essential electricity, receive information, and contact relatives for three days.
Asked about the most common mistakes people make when preparing for such situations, the specialist names several main ones:
- Accumulating a lot of food but forgetting water.
- Relying only on phone and internet for information.
- Stockpiling supplies but not checking their expiration dates.
- Not considering the needs or responsibilities of all family members.
- If there are pets at home, often forgetting to provide food and water supplies for them.
E. Baltramaitis urges residents not to deceive themselves with “I won’t need this,” but calmly think: “What would I do if normal life was disrupted?” and start taking care of it today.
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