Worry Before the Blackout: A round-up of all the important things to have on hand
Created: 08/11/2022, 06:40
By: Markus Hofstetter
If the power goes out for a longer period of time, almost nothing works in a household, from the refrigerator to flushing the toilet.
Here are tips on how to be well prepared for a blackout.
Berlin/Munich - In the midst of the Ukraine war, concerns about energy shortages in winter are growing in Germany.
These can also lead to so-called blackouts, i.e. large-scale power failures.
The extent to which blackouts pose a real threat to Germany is controversial.
While some warn of possible power outages, others see it as scaremongering.
However, the following principle applies: It is better to be prepared for a crisis, even if it does not occur, than to face a danger unprepared.
This also applies to a blackout.
Because power failures mean that it is dark in the apartment, refrigerators, freezers and stoves do not work.
Water often no longer comes out of the tap.
With the ATM dead and card payments no longer working in the supermarkets, groceries and beverages can become scarce.
Communication is also paralyzed because smartphones, laptops or radios need power when the battery is empty.
In the event of a power failure, almost nothing works in a household.
© Bihlmayerfotografie/imago
Preparing for a blackout: drinking and household water
In the event of a real blackout, water is the most important thing.
If you notice the power failure, the first thing to do is fill the bathtub or a couple of buckets, if it's still possible.
Experts also recommend always having drinking water available for ten days.
The Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance recommends a supply of 20 liters of liquid per person for ten days.
This can also be juices or other drinks.
This includes five liters of water for cooking, which corresponds to 0.5 liters per day.
If you have the opportunity to collect rainwater, it is particularly suitable as process water, for example for washing.
If you want to use rainwater as drinking water, it should be treated beforehand.
To do this, it should at least be boiled, filtered or treated with appropriate tablets.
Prepare for a blackout: Flush the toilet
If you have service water in the bathtub or in buckets, you can use it to flush the toilet.
If this is used up, experts recommend small diaper, hygiene or dog waste bags for disposal, as these prevent odors.
Garden owners can also improvise a kind of outhouse, but this should not be necessary for the first few days.
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Preparing for a blackout: heating the living space
Most heaters require electricity.
If this fails, you should stay in a single room with warm clothing and blankets.
The doors should be closed so that the residual heat cannot escape.
If you have a tent, you can set it up in the apartment and lie down with sleeping bags or blankets.
Homemade stoves, such as tea light stoves that are popular today, should not be used indoors as they are dangerous.
The grill, a fire bowl and other self-made makeshift or outdoor heaters are also life-threatening in the living room due to a lack of a vent, there is a risk of poisoning.
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Preparing for a blackout: illuminating living spaces
For the nights you should have battery-operated flashlights, preferably headlamps, as well as spare devices and batteries ready to hand.
Camping and outdoor lights or kerosene lanterns including fuel are just as suitable.
An alternative are lamps and flashlights with an integrated dynamo, the batteries of which can also be charged using a hand crank or a solar panel.
If you use candles for lighting, you should air the room regularly.
Preparing for a blackout: food storage and meal preparation
The Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance advises a supply according to individual possibilities - in the best case ten days.
It can be an advantage to have food that can be prepared and eaten cold.
This is especially true with babies and small children in the house.
The authority recommends the following amounts of different foods per person for ten days:
Cereals, pasta, bread, potatoes: 3.5 kilograms
Vegetables, legumes: 4.0 kilograms
Fruit, nuts: 2.5 kilograms
Milk, dairy products: 2.6 kilograms
Fish, meat: 1.5 kilograms
Fats, oils: 0.36 kilograms
Miscellaneous such as sweets or ready meals
If available, gas cookers are suitable for preparing warm meals, be it a gas grill for the balcony or terrace or a small camping stove.
With good ventilation, you can also use the latter in the kitchen.
In the best case, you should have food supplies for ten days in the household.
© Jochen Tack/imago
Preparing for a blackout: Use small devices despite a power failure
A little is still possible without electricity, such as music from a smartphone or portable speakers, watching films on the notebook.
But the batteries of the devices must always be well charged.
Also, keep the power banks filled - these are batteries for charging small electronic devices.
It is important that the radios can be operated with batteries.
There are also models that can be operated with a crank.
Preparing for a blackout: Check medication and first aid kit
One should always have some supplies of needed medicines in the household.
Of course, this also applies in general, for example cough syrup or painkillers.
Check your first aid kit again.
