Power Outages
Articles
Danger:
From common events like weather conditions or a down power line to rare events like solar flares or EMP, the power can and will go out at some point. The question is: for how long, and are you prepared for it? Power outage dangers reach every family, in cities and in rural areas alike, and they grow the longer the lights stay off.
Common Causes of Power Outages
- Severe weather: High winds, ice storms, hurricanes or tornadoes.
- Falling trees: Trees or branches that fall and damage power lines.
- Equipment failure: Aging equipment or equipment pushed past its load.
- Control systems: Automated control system failures.
- Animals: Birds or squirrels coming into contact with power lines.
- Construction: Projects that damage power lines.
- Grid overloads: Rising demand, including the power grid strain from data centers.
- People: Human error or malicious activity.
How far an outage spreads depends partly on the US power grids, and the biggest power outages in US history show how wide one can reach.
Guides for Every Stage of an Outage
Start with power outage preparedness, then learn how to prepare for a power outage that lasts. The basic supplies everyone should have handy belong in a power outage kit. From there, learn what to do during a power outage, the power outage safety tips that belong in your family plan, and what to do after a power outage. For the long term, build an off grid power system and weigh a gas vs electric bug out vehicle for when fuel and charging are both in question.
Power runs more of a home than the lights. It keeps food cold, furnaces and fans running, medical devices working, and in many homes it runs the well pump that brings water to the tap. A short outage is an inconvenience. A long one during a heat wave or an ice storm becomes a health and safety concern, especially for babies, older relatives, and anyone who relies on powered medical equipment. Backup heat and generators bring hazards of their own, such as carbon monoxide. The good news is that most of this risk shrinks with a little planning. Begin with power outage preparedness, then set your household rules with power outage safety tips.
