We all know how annoying it is to be watching TV, and it suddenly shuts off, you’re scrolling on your phone and suddenly nothing loads because the WIFI is off, no electricity and no lights.
Power outages are very unpredictable, and no matter how long they take, you don’t wanna be left with no plan, no lights and major more challenges.
The best thing you can do? Be prepared in advance!
What causes emergency power outages?
A power outage can occur after an interruption between power generation and the supply of electricity to your home, but why does that happen? It could be because of natural reasons, human errors or simply, an overload.
There are many reasons nature causes power outages, and while you’re inside, your power lines and poles are always exposed to strong winds, rough weather that can cause serious damage, no one can stop lightning strikes!
Not only nature but sometimes, human error is also a common cause of power outages. Whoever did the installation might not have followed the right instructions, they might have torn cables they didn’t know about or maybe someone didn’t have a good night sleep. You never know!
As it is very hard to predict, high power intensity can also cause the grid to overload.
Top 5 states where power outage occurs in the US
Hundreds of thousands of houses are affected by power outages every year, their causes might be unpredictable and different but these states remain at the top when it comes to power outages.
Top 1: California takes the first spot with 438 outages that were caused mostly by accidents, animals, faulty equipment and weather.
Top 2: Texas is next on top of the list with 192 outages.
Top 3: New York was next on the list with 165 outages that lasted on average about an hour.
Top 4: Ohio was next with less outages than New York,158 power outages, mostly caused due to weather
Top 5: In 2017, Michigan was in the top 5 states in the US with the most power outages, 155 outages caused by different reasons with 36% from weather problems and 23% from faulty equipment.
Toronto’s storm history
From rain, wind, snow to hurricanes, Toronto has it all!
Toronto’s storm history is something we can learn from to better prepare us for the future. From 1858 to 2015, Toronto has experienced harsh weather, its most memorable 1954, hurricane Hazel, the city became an island where bridges fell and people were left homeless and dead.
After 45 years, in 1999, Toronto experienced another snowstorm that produced 118cm of snow and caused lots of life and financial losses.
August 2005 was a thunderstorm month for Toronto that caused half a billion dollars in damage overall, more tornadoes in 2005 were experienced and the natural disasters continued in 2011 tornado, flood of 2013, the ice storm of 2013, 2015’s thunderstorm that caused traffic problems and falling trees in the streets.
How to get power during emergency power outages?
If there’s a power outage, you obviously won’t have standard sources of electricity, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have it other ways. A portable source of energy that can be available whenever you can and power all the devices you need, that will cover your needs and keep you connected until the situation gets fixed, wouldn’t that be just amazing?
Luckily that is not impossible today with the new technology, that is not a problem with Large power banks. BLUETTI has great products that satisfy your needs and will keep you covered for hours, days and even weeks! A great addition if not a necessity to your emergency plan.
Don’t believe me? Take a look at the BLUETTI AC200 MAX, an expandable power station that will support you during an emergency power outage, its battery capacity of 2048Wh, and the 2200W of continuous output it provides is more than reliable.
It comes with multiple ports for all your needs, a 100W PD3.0 USB-C port, an upgraded MPPT controller that handles up to 900W of solar input, and a built-in 30A NEMA TT-30. It comes with a touchscreen display, supports Bluetooth and can be controlled to monitor charge and manage power distribution remotely!
If you want to know how long it can run the device, read on and find it.
It can power a refrigerator with 150 watts of power for 15 to 28 hours without any burden. It can keep a 10-watt light on for more than 50 hours and power your air conditioner for 3 to 7 hours (depending on the size of your air conditioner). Even if the power goes out, you don't have to worry. Because you can use solar panels to charge it!
The BLUETTI AC300+B300 is another option you can rely on during a power emergency, with its 3,072Wh capacity and multiple charging choices just like the AC200 MAX.
It’s the perfect portable solution and can be a great backup, it can also be controlled remotely and adjusted to your power needs. You know you will not run out of things to do inside and keep you busy until you overcome the power outage.
And if that’s not enough for you, that’s not all, though. The BLUETTI’ AC300 can take up to four B300 battery modules, which can give you 12,288Wh of power!
What do 12228 watts mean? This means you can use the microwave to heat more than 170 meals, keep the refrigerator running for 40 hours, or keep the lights on for 720 hours!
That’s plenty of power, needless to say.
Power outage emergency response plan
During a power outage, many of the necessities that we take for granted will disappear, roads could be blocked, gas stations might be out of service and water services as well.
So you understand, and you know that you have to make an emergency plan, but don’t know where to start? What to do? Do not worry we’ve got you covered!
1. Know the risks and get prepared, before, during and after a power outage
- Start by preparing your home, you might consider a non-electric heater and non-electric depending products.
- A fireplace would look good and be very useful in times like this.
- During an outage, you might wanna say hi to your neighbour and give them a visit to check if they're experiencing it as well, if they’re don’t, you gotta be careful and always keep an emergency number you can call, (police, fire, ambulance, etc..)
- Go around your house and make sure to turn off all your devices and electronics to prevent damage when the power is back.
- Avoid opening your freezer or fridge unless it’s necessary and make sure to restock your emergency kit so it will be ready next time.
2.Make an Emergency Plan, know what you need to do and where to go
- It is important to take time to sit down and think about all the possibilities, to discuss with your family and children so that everyone has an idea of what needs to be done no matter where they are.
- Gather your most important documents, birth certificates, passports, wills, finances, insurance in a waterproof container and make sure you have someone out of town you can contact in case of necessity.
- Write down your plan and exercise it with your family to better act in tough situations.
What should be included in your emergency kit?
A basic emergency kit that will keep you covered for at least 72hours is very important if you wanna survive a power outage with the least damages, but what do you exactly need?
- Start with a bottle of water, 2 litres per person a day should be fine, make sure you got enough for all your family, as well as a supply of non-perishable ready to eat foods, food that won’t spoil, canned food and don’t forget a can opener if needed. Energy bars might be your go-to snack.
- A first-aid kit is a necessity, medications, ice packs.
- Make sure you have a flashlight, batteries, an external power bank, blankets, and extra keys for your house…
- Make sure that it’s easily carried, things you can put in a backpack, store it somewhere it’s easy to reach, make sure all your family members know where to go and where to find it, and make sure to make yearly checks to replace expired, used items and to make sure it stills fits your needs.
- If you have a child, you have to pack diapers and wipes, medication and extra clothing.
- If you have a pet, pet food, water and medications should also be taken into consideration. Don’t forget to keep extra cash and a copy of your emergency plan and contacts.
- Additional items would be games to keep you entertained, led lights and toilet paper...
FAQ
1.What will cause power outages in winter?
In winter, power outages are more likely to be caused by natural reasons, winter storms are a very big threat to your electrical equipment, as well as snow that can build weight on top of power lines and tree limbs.
2.What to do if there is no power at home?
First, check your neighbor’s power, if it’s only you then contact and call for help, otherwise you should always go back to your emergency plan, prepare one asap if you don’t have one already.
You can always have other electricity alternatives such as a power bank that will keep you covered until your home power is back.
3.How to charge your smartphones during an emergency power outage?
There are many ways to charge your phone during a power outage, from your laptop, car battery, power bank, and solar-powered chargers.
4.Is it safe to use fuel generators indoors?
No, never run a generator indoors! Only use it outdoors!
Conclusion
During a power outage, you might be limited to the things you usually do, and to avoid big damages and confusion, having an emergency plan is a necessity to keep you and your loved ones safe.
