How to Cope During Blackouts

Blackouts occur in summer and winter

This past winter a severe ice storm hit several counties in central Kansas including the city we live in. Much of the county did without electricity for a week or more. Although emergency shelters were set up at the state fair grounds and other places where there were generators, this was not an option for many. Spring and summer storms can also cause blackouts that may last eight hours or more from downed power lines and blown transformers. There are ways to make the time bearable and enjoyable for you and your family during a blackout.

Things You'll Need

• Lantern
• Cards and games
• Blankets
• Flashlight
• Candles
• Battery powered radio
• Non-perishable food items and bottled water

Instructions

Summer Blackouts

1. 

   Purchase a kerosene lantern for evening and nighttime use from a store that sells camping equipment or at a discount or hardware store. Purchase an extra container of kerosene and make sure you keep it in a locked cabinet well out of the way of children and a box of extra long wooden matches to light it. A lantern puts out a good size area of light and you can always buy two or three.

2. 

   A hurricane lamp will work for lighting, also. You can purchase oil for these and the lamps are sold at discout, hobby, and sometimes hardware stores. You can get unscented or scented oil for the lamps.

3. 

   If you know a storm is coming a day or two ahead, take a trip to the store for any non-perishable food items you may need like bread, canned tuna or other meat, pork and beans and other canned goods, bottle water and goodies like peanut butter.

4. 

   Purchase and keep on hand a can of sterno and/or a camp stove for cooking. Once a storm has passed and you are still under blackout conditions, you could possibly light up the charcoal or propane grill and cook items from your freezer. If you have a gas stove, a blackout may not impact your ability to use your stove for heat or cooking.

5. Although cost prohibitive for many people, purchasing a gas generator for electricity is another option.

6. 

   Make sure you have playing cards, board games like checkers, parchesi, chutes and ladder, monopoly, etc. on hand. Playing games with your children, or just between adults or friends if you do not have any children, is a good way to pass the time. It also helps keep everyone's minds off of the darkness and wondering how long it might last.

7. 

   Play interactive games like charades as an alternative to board games if you don't have any. Other interactive games include "I Spy," which constitutes someone writing down the name of an item within the room and everyone trying to guess what it is. Try word games using paper and pencils like hangman and tic-tac-toe. You can also tell stories, even making them up as you go, or share memories for laughter and to lighten the mood.

8. 

   Take refrigerated items and put them in your freezer if you can. With no electricity, milk and other refrigerated goods should not freeze but will keep cold longer. If you have any large coolers and it is safe to go to a grocers or convenience store place milk, eggs, cheese, and other refrigerated goods in the cooler and cover them with bagged ice.

9. A battery-operated clock radio or clock and radio helps you keep in touch with the outside world. Blackouts can be scary for both children and adults alike as they can make a person feel isolated, exposed, and vulnerable. Having music, weather and news updates and even radio programs to listen to can make a difference in how you feel.

10. 

    If possible have a small flashlight for every family member so that trips to the restroom, kitchen, or other room in the house can be made without tripping and falling or stumbling around blindly. Or share one or two flashlights among you.

11. You should consider having everyone sleeping in one room during a blackout so that children will not become too frightened or disorientated if they wake up in the dark.

12. 

    During summer and winter blackouts take a large flashlight and carefully shine it around outdoors to make sure there are no down electrical lines of any kind. Often you will see sparks, hear crackling, and maybe even see a line moving if one is down. If you have a downed electrical line out in the street, immediately call the emergency number for your electric company and notify them of the location. Do not go outdoors or try to walk or drive around a downed line.

Winter Blackouts

1. Refer to the steps for summer storms for information on heating, food prep, sleeping and family activity.

2. 

   During a winter blackout you can possibly keep milk or other perishables in a cooler outdoors on a porch, in the garage, or sitting in the snow to help keep staples cold and usable if the temperature is at freezing (32 degrees Farenheit) or colder.

3. 

   Keep and store plenty of blankets and sleeping bags for extra warmth If you can, have everyone share one or two beds at night and pile on the blankets. Two children of the same sex and similar in size and/or age could share a sleeping bag, as could adults. You could also pile up in a bed to tell happy and humorous stories or share memories during the day. Shared body heat and emotional comfort are great things to have.

4. During winter blackouts a lantern, gas generator, kerosene cook stoves, or a gas stove if your kitchen stove is gas, can be used for heat, as well as to generate light or for cooking. Make sure your house is ventiliated. You can open a kitchen or living room window two or three inches to keep fresh air coming into your home.

5. Try to stay in your living room, family room, or a bedroom as much as possilbe. This will allow you to shut off as many rooms in your house as possible to keep what heat you have contained in a smaller area.

6. 

   Wear coats, hats, scarves, and gloves if you have them. Make sure you and your children wear socks with shoes or slippers.

7. 

   Purchase a large roll of heavy plastic. Tape or staple plastic over north windows, and other windows if possible. Arctic air usually sweeps down from the north and east. This helps keep the frigid wind out of the house and helps keep your house or apartment warmer longer. Place sheets, towels, or other cloth items at the bottoms of any doors or window that have large gaps where too much frigid air can get inside. Check to make sure outside storm windows, as well as the inside panes, are shut.

Tips & Warnings

• At the beginning of each spring and again in the fall, restock non-perishable food items and bottled water, kerosene for lanterns or cook stoves, flashlight batteries, etc. so that you will be ready if there is a blackout in the spring and summer, or winter.

• Before winter weathr sets in, check windows to make sure they are calked or have weather stripping to keep out frigid winter air.

• Remember to open a window two or three inches to allow air inside to ventilate your house if you are using a kerosene lantern or keeping a gas stove on for heat.