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UK storms can be rough, often bringing heavy rains or even snow and leading to unexpected and far-reaching outages. The best way to prepare for these occurrences is to think ahead, gather the supplies you need, and implement the necessary strategies before they become relevant.
Here are fifteen essential tips to stay safe and prepare for unexpected outages in the UK.
How Do You Prepare for a Power Outage in the UK?
Preparation is key in this instance. You can prepare better when the power is on and there’s no storm in the forecast, so do this well in advance so you’ll always be ready when disaster strikes.
Make an Emergency Kit
An emergency kit should be ready and stocked with everything you need in case of injury, illness, or a disaster scenario. This should include a first aid kit, lights or flashlights and additional batteries, matches and tinder, extra warm clothes and blankets, a supply of enough non-perishable food and drinking water for everyone in the home for at least three days, and a USB power bank to charge minor electronic devices.
Know Your Energy Provider
You should also know exactly who your energy provider is– that way, you know where to look for power updates, you can easily navigate their website using cell service, and you can even call them if possible. If you know your energy provider, you’ll also know who to ask if you’re eligible for compensation after an extended outage.
Know How to Check Your Fuse Box
Know where your fuse box is and how to check if a fuse has blown or if there is simply an issue with the trip switches in your home. While extensive issues likely cause storm-based outages, you never want to overlook the possibility that it’s something you can quickly fix with the flip of a switch.
Protect Equipment from Potential Flooding
Equipment on the basement level can be vulnerable to flooding. If you know that a storm is coming with the potential for flooding and outages, move the equipment from the floor to a higher place where the wires and electrical components won’t be in danger of coming into contact with water.
Prevent Pipe Freezing in the Winter
If the cause of the outage is a winter storm, frozen pipes are also a risk you don’t want to take. Prevent pipe-freezing by keeping your faucets on a drip or adding insulation to particularly vulnerable pipes.
Invest in Electricity Backup
Outages can last many hours to several days, depending on the cause and the time required to get the grid working again. Keeping a portable generator or EcoFlow Portable Power Station on hand can get you through extended outages with minimal disruption. The EcoFlow DELTA Series Solar Generators include several excellent options for various power needs.
For example, the EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max Solar Generator (PV400W) has 3000W output on X-Boost mode and an expandable 2-6kWh capacity. The EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 Solar Generator (PV400W) has a 4000W output and base capacity of 4096Wh that can be expanded to 12kWh.
Know Where to Find Weather Warnings and Updates
You don’t want to use essential battery life to find the best source for weather warnings and updates. Instead, have your go-to sources bookmarked on your phone for news, weather, and electricity updates. These may include a reputable local news source, municipal government website, and utility provider.
Unplug Non-Essential Appliances
Non-essential appliances should not remain plugged into the walls if a storm is coming in and outages are expected. Unplug them to prevent surges that damage the appliances if the power goes out, leaving only one or two lights plugged in so you’ll know when power has been restored.
Register for Priority Services If Needed
If you or someone in your home requires extra support during a power cut, register with your network operator’s Priority Service Register. Ofgem’s potential qualifications for this service include:
- Pension age
- Disabled or long-term medical condition
- Recovering from injury
- Hearing/sight disability
- Mental health conditions
- Pregnant or have young children
- Extra communication needs (non-native English speakers)
- Poor sense of smell
- Struggle to answer the door/get help in an emergency
Maintain and Stock Up Your Fireplace
Some fireplaces, including electric fireplaces, power-vented fireplaces, and pellet stoves, won’t work during an outage because they rely on electricity to power one or more elements of their operation.
However, if you have a fully gas-powered fireplace, follow safety protocols when using it during an outage and stock up on firewood, fuel, flint, matches, or lighters to keep warm and bring light into the house during an outage.
How To Stay Safe During a Power Cut In the UK
When the power goes out in the UK, don’t panic. Here’s what to do.
Call For Help
If you notice any risks to the public, such as large downed trees or dangling electrical wires, always call 999 to report these to the proper authorities. Additionally, if you are part of the Priority Services Register, you can call the number you’ve been given for further help. Another option is to call 105 to get connected to your local network company for more guidance.
Use Flashlights, Lamps, or Torches
Don’t try to use your electronics or appliances. Ensure everything is unplugged (except one light), and instead, utilise the flashlights, lamps, or torches from your emergency kit to illuminate your home for safety and comfort. If it’s daylight, you may want to use window light to preserve precious battery life.
Cozy Up Indoors
Prepare to stay indoors for a bit, so get cosy with extra layers and blankets and ensure all windows and doors are sealed and adequately shut. You want to maintain any heat already indoors and prevent heat loss or cold air seeping in. If you have a purely gas-powered fireplace, you can light it now.
Use a Solar Generator
You don’t have to rely on flashlights forever. If you have a solar generator, you can begin to connect it once you have some light to illuminate your equipment. Connect an EcoFlow Portable Power Station with EcoFlow Solar Panels to create your own solar generator to help you stay safe during a power cut in the UK. Depending on your generator’s capacity and output, you can use this to charge essential devices like phones, medical equipment like CPAP machines, or even larger appliances like refrigerators.
Frequently Asked Questions
When the power goes out, the first thing to do is unplug all non-essential electronics and appliances to prevent damage from surges when the electricity suddenly returns. This includes TVs, computers, and large appliances like refrigerators and ovens.
Depending on the cause of the outage, mobile phones may still work during a power cut. Sometimes, electricity and cellular infrastructure are damaged, which could mean both your cell service and electricity are out until the problem is fixed.
WiFi will go off during a power cut because it requires an electrical connection to establish the signal that your devices then connect to. However, you may still be able to turn your mobile phone into a WiFi hotspot by using any available cellular data.
Final Thoughts
You can’t predict the weather in the UK or the outages that may accompany it, but you can protect yourself by preparing for storm power outages as best you can.
Pack an emergency kit, create a list of emergency contacts, and invest in an alternative power source like the EcoFlow DELTA Series Solar Generators to make these blackout periods more comfortable.