Ten Things I Needed During a Power Outage

11/20/2019 (Permalink)

Top Ten!

What I Needed During a Power Outage

October was full of unpredictable circumstances. The Kincade fire grew at an exponential rate and endangered our neighborhoods. PG&E had to take drastic precautionary measures by shutting off the power lines to around a million residents of both Sonoma, Napa, and Marin county. Fortunately, we had government support through a declaration of National Emergency which led to the dispatching of firefighters from neighboring cities, counties, and states. These brave people contained the fire and prevented major catastrophe.

The outage was an unfortunate circumstance and there were specific items that I wish I had in my possession to make the experience easier. The next time an outage occurs I want to be prepared and share with you the top ten essential items I needed during a power outage.

Top Ten List:

1. First Aid Kit: Safety first!
2. Powered Portable Charger(s): Cell phones or laptops are essential for daily living. Having a communication device during an emergency can be a lifesaver. Also, passing the time online when there is no power can make the process easier.
3. Batteries: AA, AAA, or a backup battery are useful to power items that require them. Such as a flashlight or have in case you possess items that require batteries. Such as a flashlight, clocks, or radios.
4. Flashlight: A flashlight is important for visibility at night. During a power outage, it can be difficult to move around. While I recommend having a LED flashlight, any normal light is useful to have.
5. Gas: During the outage, many people had informed me that they were low on gas and therefore confined to their area until the power came back on or until someone can help them get to a gas station with power to be able to transfer gas back to their vehicles. Having a car filled with gas can also be essential for rapidly evacuating during an emergency.
6. Cooler: The first thing I thought about during the outage was whether my food was going to spoil since our refrigerator was no longer running. Having a cooler could have erased this worry by transferring the food that would’ve spoiled without refrigeration. Of course, having a cooler alone won’t work in the preservation of your food.
7. Manual Can opener: Can openers can be a huge aid when you need to open your non-perishable foods.
8. Ice: This is the trickiest item on the list to have since a fire and outage are unpredictable. Ice does not have a long-life span as it melts easily and without refrigeration or a permanent cold environment, ice is a valuable resource that one needs to get an upper-hand when buying since it is the first thing to go at the grocery stores.
9. Canned Food or Non-perishables: Being that food is a necessity for survival. Having food that does not perish without electricity can determine life or death. Well at least, that you don’t spend the days starving at least. Food includes: bars, nuts, candies, peanut butter, chips, beef jerky and much more.
10. Bottled Water: The most important resource to have access to during a crisis. Preferably not stored in plastic but only if needed. Just make sure you don’t leave the bottles unattended in the car with sunlight directly hitting them.

Disclaimer:

This list is intended for short term emergencies and everyone has different needs therefore different priorities. That was my list of ten things I needed during the power outage. Hopefully, it helps. 

Brought to you by SERVPRO^® of Napa County