Things You'll Need:
- Wind-up flashlight
- Wind-up radio
- Bottled water
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Step 1
Keep plenty of water on hand. There’s no need to stock your basement with 300 gallons of Evian, but it’s always a good idea store enough water (or juice, or soda) for a few days. Remember, if the lights go off, it’s likely that the water will, too, especially if you live in an apartment building that uses a mechanical pumping system. (If there’s a blackout and you don’t have water stored, immediately fill up your pots and pans, and take a shower before the pump fails.)
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Step 2
Invest in a wind-up radio. When the lights go out, so does the TV, radio, and computer, making it next-to-impossible to find out what’s going on. A wind-up radio is just what it sounds like: you turn the crank, and the stored-up energy generates enough power for 10 minutes or so of reception, which you can prolong by winding the crank again. (If you’re the type who’s careless about batteries, you may want to buy a wind-up flashlight as well, which works on the same principle).
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Step 3
Don’t panic. A summer blackout isn’t much fun for anyone, and you won’t help matters by running up and down the hallways of your apartment building screaming at the top of your lungs or hovering nervously over your powerless air conditioner. Also, when the A/C goes off, keep a calm demeanor and you'll preserve precious bodily fluids.
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Step 4
If you can, go somewhere else. If the blackout is localized over a few blocks, consider calling a friend or relative and asking if you can drop by (especially if you hear over your wind-up radio that the outage may last for more than a few hours). If you can, try to sleep outside, where it will be much cooler (remember, in a blackout, you won’t even have the benefit of a room fan!).
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Step 5
Check on your neighbors. A surprising number of people (especially in apartment buildings) are essentially “invisible”: shut-ins, disabled people or elderly tenants who don’t get out much. This is a good time to knock on your neighbors’ doors and make sure they’re okay. It's not only a good deed, but it will take your mind off your own discomfort until power is restored.
