I grew up in the ‘burbs of NYC, and in the whole of my 18 years there the number of hours we were without power could be counted on my fingers.
In areas less developed, or with more challenging terrain, Moms need to be prepared for a long-term power outage! The good news is, with just a little planning and a small budget, you can dramatically improve your family’s comfort and safety during a nasty storm.
Preparations for a Power Outage
1) Darkness is the enemy. In areas of the country like my current home–Seattle–the Winter months are very dark for much of the day. Owning a few battery-powered lamps like the Coleman Battery Powered Deluxe Table Lamp is a small investment. They’re portable, cool to the touch, and give enough light for storybook reading under a blanket. Dot-it lights are also an amazing way to keep a home well lit. These tiny little LED discs actually provide a decent amount of light. When we lose power, I scatter these along heavily trafficked routes as “nightlights” so my family can walk around without carrying a lantern.
2) Own enough supplies for two weeks. Don’t be caught off-guard! I try to keep at least one extra week of essentials on-hand in the Winter months, so I don’t need to wrestle other Moms at the grocery store over a carton of milk when stress levels are high. If you don’t have space in the fridge, keep non-perishables like mandarin oranges, powdered milk, cereal and crackers. Your children will appreciate when their favorite foods are available, especially when the TV is dark!
3) Be prepared for the cold. Homes can cool down fast when the heat is off during the Winter. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, be sure to keep stocked on firewood or Duraflame-style logs all winter long. If you own a gas fireplace, be sure you have a lighter to ignite it when the power is off.
4) Bonus idea for Super-Moms. If you have the time and money for it, making a hotel reservation for 1-2 days after an impending storm can be a lifesaver. One reservation should be at a hotel near your house (if the outage is only local) and one in a further location still accessible by car (in case the outage is widespread). Ensure you are able to cancel these reservations with no charge if you don’t need them. But, after a day or two of camping out in a cold house with no power, you might be happy to have secured your place in a warm, well-lit retreat.
5) Consider a generator. If you know a big storm is heading your way, and you live in an area prone to power-loss, consider buying a generator. To fully integrate the generator with your home, you’ll need an electrician, but in a pinch you can also run extension cords from a generator outside into your home to power essential appliances like the refrigerator. You can always buy a small generator before a storm, and return it if you don’t need to use it. Be sure you know how to operate the generator before you need it, and be sure you have enough gasoline to run it!