How to Avoid a Winter Power Outage by Being Prepared –

I know you’re all wondering how I can possibly avoid a winter power outage. I obviously have no control over the electric power service. I certainly don’t have a magic weather machine to control the winter weather. However, I can assure you I have successfully avoided winter power outages for more than a decade. It took me a few years, but I have discovered the secret to preventing winter power outages.

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A Few Rough Winters

We built this house in 2001, and I’ve always had big dreams of making the basement fully operational even when the power grid is completely down. During my childhood, winter power outages were not uncommon. Indiana winters can be brutal. Our power was out for several, long days during my senior year. We had another lengthy power outage while I was in college. So even before building this house, there were certain features I knew I would eventually want even if we couldn’t afford them right away.

During the first few years of living here, the basement was completely bare and empty. During that time, guess what? We had multiple winter power outages lasting days at a time. During one of those, we all stayed next door in my parents’ basement because they have an alternative heating source, and they own a generator that can run a TV and some lighting. We had very small children then, and keeping a baby warm is not easy in a grid down situation. During an even longer power outage, we all (including my parents) ended up at my sisters’ house. During that outage, the roads were clear enough that we could make it to town after the first day, but it was still almost two weeks before our power was restored.

During that last outage, our neighbors to the east had power again after about five days. Our neighbors to the north regained power after 6-7 days. My grandparents to the west had power after eight days. For two more days, after everyone else on every side had power, we did not. Only our house and my parents’ house remained as a lonely, dark island of no power.

After three or four nights at my sisters’, we returned to our houses even though our power wasn’t restored because we were running out of clothes there, and we were just so frustrated. Once the neighbors were getting power again, we thought our power would surely come back any minute, so we would just wait it out at home. Every morning I would wake up and want to cry. Every night I would look around at the houses on every side with their security lights and want to cry. We called the power company every day. Every day they said we had to be patient because not everyone had been restored.

Finally, one morning we called again. That time they assured us everyone had been restored. We assured them we HAD NOT been restored. Oops. There was a tiny little switch on the pole between my house and my parents’ that hadn’t been reset. A power truck drove out. The man got out and took a really long telescoping pole and flipped that switch. It took him about 30 seconds. Then we had power! We could have had power several days before that if that switch had been flipped. We didn’t have time to be mad about it because we were just so happy to have power again.

That ten-day power outage perhaps gave us the motivation we needed to get more serious. We started slowly adding stuff to our own basement in hopes of having somewhat comfortable living arrangements during a long-term power outage.

A generator is not a necessity in surviving a winter power outage. I know it’s nice to have one, but it’s not essential to survival. Instead of sinking financial resources into a generator, we decided to focus first on the three winter preparedness features that are actually necessary, not just convenient.

1.) Alternative Heat for a Power Outage

Although we heat the upstairs with propane, the furnace runs on electric. We installed alternative heat in the basement first. We needed some form of heating in the basement anyway, so we made sure to invest in sources that would work without any form of electric power. Check out Winter Storm Preparedness – Alternative Heat without Electricity.

2.) Massive Water Storage for an Emergency

We have quite a bit of water accessible at all times. During winter, I like to have an additional 50 gallons of water that would be usable for washing but not ready for drinking without boiling. We also try to keep several cases of bottled water stocked. My storage solution for the 50 gallons is one of my most ingenious ideas ever. Check out Winter Storm Preparedness – Massive Water Storage on the Cheap to find out about my water storage system.

3.) Non-Perishable, Easily-Prepared Food for When You Have No Electricity

We have plenty of food in the house at all times. Starvation would not be a factor even if we weren’t specifically prepared for winter outages. We always have a freezer full of beef, venison, and pork. We have cabinets full of dry goods, canned goods, and so on. We have a grill outside, and we have been known to cook on it in winter even when the power’s not out. We would not starve even with no specific food preparation, but trying to feed a large family with no electric power source can be a lot simpler with some pre-planning. Don’t miss my food guide Winter Storm Preparedness – Power Outage Foods.

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My emergency preparedness worked but not in the way I had anticipated.

With some time and effort and a relatively modest amount of investment, we were able to accommodate these three essential winter storm necessities over a decade ago. However, we have not experienced any power outages more than a few hours long since I’ve implemented my winter preparedness tactics. Therefore, I can only conclude the act of being prepared has caused the power to stay operational. I have completely avoided a winter power outage simply by getting ready for one.

All the years that I scoffed at the weatherman and convinced myself it was just a bunch of hype, and I didn’t even rush out to buy milk and bread, we suffered massive ice storms that took out the power of thousands of people. Every time I could hear the ice crackling on my roof as I was dozing off to sleep and thought maybe I should get out of bed and fill a tub of water or something, I woke to no power. Ever since I’ve been prepared for a lengthy experiment in primitive living, the power has stayed. Those of you who are local and reading this can thank me for keeping all our power on just by investing in and implementing winter preparation measures. You’re welcome!

Trust me. I’m not complaining. I’ll gladly keep the electricity. I feel no special need to put my preparedness plan to the test. I will gladly absorb that waste of time, effort, and money.

Current Predictions on this Winter Storm?

I can only assume that you could benefit from winter preparedness in a similar way. If you prepare for the winter power outage, it surely won’t happen, right? So far, my track record is 100%. The forecasts are calling for anywhere from 2-22 inches for us this weekend. Some of the predictions include ice. Will I make it through the Blizzard of 2018 with my perfect record unscathed? Will we maintain power throughout the entire ordeal? Let us know your predictions in the comments!

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