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Why I’m Writing About Power Outages

I often live off-grid—both on land and water—for extended periods. Over time, I’ve gained experience through trial and error and by learning from others. I apply these lessons in my urban home to reduce my family’s dependence on external electrical power.

Food and emergency power

Food in the Fridge and Freezer

  • A fridge keeps food safe under 40 °F. Above this temperature, food should be consumed within 2 hours. Details on this USDA page.
  • A full freezer stays cold for up to 48 hours (24 hours if half-full). To determine the safety of foods when the power goes on, check their condition and temperature. If food is partly frozen, still has ice crystals, or is as cold as if it were in a refrigerator (40 °F), it is safe to refreeze or use. Details on this USDA page
  • When the power is off, you may want to put dry ice, block ice, or bags of ice in the freezer or transfer foods to a friend’s freezer until power is restored. Use an appliance thermometer to monitor the temperature.
  • If the outage lasts more than a few hours, cook perishable food from the fridge first, then from the freezer—especially meat and fish. Cooked food lasts longer than raw. Reheat it thoroughly before eating (heat effectively kills bacteria). If you can’t cook raw meat or fish, discard it. If you have a pressure cooker, or, even better, a pressure canner, pressure-cook and can everything perishable (USDA guide on pressure canning)

Finding Power

  • Car 12V Power – If you don’t have power banks, your car battery is a reliable option. It can charge small devices via the 12V outlet or, in many modern cars, USB ports. Use a 12V to 110V inverter to power small electronics and essential devices. Important: Run the engine regularly (outdoors only—never in a closed garage) to recharge the battery.
  • Get a power bank from your nearest hardware store and charge it wherever power is available—outages always have a boundary.

Affordable Power Outage Preparation: Essential Gear

If you want to be prepared for the next outage, here are some budget-friendly solutions.

Low-Cost Emergency Power Solutions

  • Car Battery + Inverter – A 110V inverter plugged into your car’s 12V outlet can power small appliances up to 400W.
  • Battery Banks – Keep a USB power bank for phones and a larger battery station for essentials.
  • Portable Solar Panels – Small, foldable panels can charge electronics, even on cloudy days.
  • Gas/Propane Generators – Useful for prolonged outages but require fuel storage.

Living Without Electricity

  • Portable Propane Stove – with gas canisters.
  • Rocket Stoves – Highly efficient wood-burning stoves for cooking.
  • Propane heaters - Choose a good unit from a reliable brand.
  • Candles & Gas Lanterns are reliable lighting options. I love petrol lamps, even though they’re not the safest options.

Long-Term Energy Solutions: Building Your Off-Grid Resilience

Off-grid living isn’t about retreating to a shed in the woods—it’s about having the capability to sustain yourself when the power, gas or water goes out. Even in an apartment, you can gradually build your off-grid capability. Roof access is a bonus, but windows and DIY gutters can work too.

  • Simple Off-Grid Solar Setup – You may not need or want a full rooftop solar system, installed by a professional and connected to the grid. Instead, you can install a couple of 200 to 500W panels, wherever practical (or keep them stored in your garage) for personal use, combined with some power regulation devices and a few car batteries. Look into 12V/24V/48V power setups used on boats and RVs. I have two solar panels providing up to 800W of power (each weighs 20 lbs, so still portable). They’re connected via charge controllers to four large car batteries, with a 1500W 110V inverter powering my devices—everything from computers to an electric cooker. I align my consumption with my system’s output—charging devices during the day and minimizing usage at night.

  • Wind Generators – A good supplement if you have outdoor space.

    • I wouldn’t install one on my roof (they can be noisy).
    • My wind generator provides at least 60W of continuous power when wind speeds hit 15 mph or more, day or night.

  • Internet - The best option I have found is Starlink. The residential or RV plans are now very affordable. The full installation draws 70W, which is very reasonable. I have Internet access, with or without grid power, with or without cellular towers around.

Load Shedding: Reducing Your Power Needs

Reducing electricity dependence is both practical and rewarding. It’s not about reverting to the Bronze Age, but about eliminating unnecessary power consumption. Keep everything you use and like. Discard the rest.

  • Store fewer perishables – Opt for canned, dried, and non-perishable foods in addition to your frozen food reserve.
  • Power Outage Challenge – Ask yourself:
    • What can’t I do without power that I need to be able to? and find a solution. Make sure you have backup power for that.
    • What powered devices do I use that I could easily live without? and give them away. I mean, we don’t really need a Bluetooth kitchen scale or an electric can opener. Remove useless powered gadgets from your life.

Product Recommendations

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And As Always…

Stay sharp, stay strong, and keep being an Everyday Hero.

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Be safe out there, my friends.