What to do in case of power failure or blackout? Tips and solutions

Germany's power supply is considered one of the most secure in Europe. Nevertheless, there is also a certain risk of power failures and blackouts in this country. However, the supply of electricity and heat is of great importance not only for our well-being, but in many cases also for our health. In times of crisis, you should therefore look into alternative solutions for power supply.

Power outage and blackout - from short power interruption to total failure

A power outage is a brief interruption in the power supply. Power outages are regionally limited and usually affect a rather manageable number of people. The cause of the outage is usually quickly localized. In the event of a power outage, the power supply is restored within a few minutes or hours. Since many public facilities such as hospitals, but also larger businesses, are often equipped with an emergency power generator, minor power outages may even go unnoticed in some cases.

A blackout, on the other hand, is a breakdown in supply. It is a large-scale power failure that affects a large number of people at the same time. In the event of a blackout, not only households but also businesses and public facilities such as hospitals and schools are affected.

How does a power outage or blackout occur?

A power outage is caused by an imbalance in the power grid. As much new electricity must always be fed into the power grid as is drawn out. As soon as more power is withdrawn than arrives, safety mechanisms normally lead to a stabilization of the grid. However, in the event of very strong, unexpected fluctuations, a breakdown occurs. As a result, the power fails.

Power outages can occur for many different reasons. For example, if many households are using electric heaters and fan heaters at the same time, the sporadic high power consumption can cause a brief power outage. Under normal circumstances, however, severe weather, accidents and technical defects are the greatest risk factors for power outages. In particular, storms and heavy precipitation can cause brief interruptions in the power supply.

Blackouts usually occur as a result of very bad weather conditions. Storms, thunderstorms and heavy snowfall can damage or destroy power lines, causing long-lasting, widespread power outages. Since a blackout can last several days in emergency situations, private precautions are crucial in this case.

How likely is a power blackout in Germany?

In 2020, German households only had to do without electricity for just over 10 minutes on average. There were isolated local and regional power outages. There has not yet been a nationwide blackout in Germany. According to the German government, this is still considered unlikely today. However, the risk of a power blackout in Germany is currently higher than in previous years due to the energy transition and gas shortages.

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection conducted a test on the security of the power grid in 2022. This revealed that there is a high probability of power outages in some regions of Europe. It turned out that in critical scenarios there may also be short-term outages in the German power grid. Nevertheless, the probability of a blackout is rather low.

How can I check if it is a power outage or blackout?

A power outage is a short-term interruption in the power supply that is normally repaired within a few hours. A power outage is limited to a smaller area, such as a settlement, a neighborhood or a city. A blackout, on the other hand, affects larger areas such as entire states or even countries and lasts much longer.

As soon as a power outage lasts longer than a few hours and affects a larger area, you can assume with a high probability that it is a blackout. Since TV, radio and other media are not available in this case, you have very limited ability to get information about the situation. A solar-powered crank radio offers you the opportunity to keep up to date with current events during the blackout.

What do I need to be aware of during a blackout?

In the event of a power outage in the vicinity, it is recommended to follow the guidelines of the disaster relief and the Federal Office for Civil Protection. There you will find information on blackout preparation. You will receive tips on how to behave correctly during power outages as well as recommendations regarding emergency first-aid kits and emergency supplies.

You should be aware that a blackout in Germany is bound to have a significant impact on private and public life. In the event of a prolonged power outage, there will be a sudden failure of all devices and equipment that are not battery-powered or connected to emergency power systems. Accordingly, trains and streetcars may come to a standstill. In addition, there will be considerable restrictions on shopping facilities, as cash registers and doors will no longer work in many cases. It is also no longer possible to obtain cash from ATMs.

Since communications networks are also dependent on the power supply, the telephone landline network fails within a short time. Although some mobile networks are supplied with emergency power, the networks quickly become overloaded during extraordinary events. Phone calls should therefore be limited to essential calls in the event of a power outage. An overload can mean that the fire department, police and rescue services cannot be reached in emergencies.

If you don't have basic equipment for a power outage, you risk sitting in a cold and dark apartment. In addition, all electronic devices such as televisions and refrigerators will fail. Even medical support equipment that may be vital will not function without power. Without adequate preparation, a blackout is often associated not only with inconvenience but also with great danger.

What are the dangers of a power outage?

A power failure in the vicinity can be associated with considerable dangers that are often not recognized at first glance. In the event of an increased blackout probability, you should therefore inform yourself precisely and prepare well.

During a power outage, many gas-powered light and heating sources are used in households. People also increasingly resort to candles and other fire sources. Unattended operation or improper handling of these sources increases the risk of fire. Since power-operated smoke detectors also fail, fires are detected and reported less quickly in many cases.

When using gas-fired heating sources, you should pay great attention to the strict observance of safety precautions. When using indoor fire sources, you must ensure adequate ventilation.

What products help during a power outage or blackout?

A power blackout leads not only to a loss of function of lights, stove, refrigerator, heat pump and fan heater, but also of mobile communications and Internet. A blackout also causes the toilet to flush and the entire water supply to fail. If you make good blackout preparations, you can survive even prolonged power outages without major difficulties.

Your basic equipment for a power outage should address the following areas:

• Power generation and storage
• Heating and heat generation
• Cooking without power supply
• Light generation
• durable emergency food
• clean drinking water
• Hygiene

Power generation and storage

A blackout leads to an abrupt failure of all electronic devices. Thanks to self-contained emergency power, you can charge your smartphone and access your phone, flashlight and other functions in an emergency. Emergency power supply is also of utmost importance when using medical equipment.

With emergency generators and solar panels you can produce your electricity independently. The generated energy can then be stored in a power station or power bank. This way you can use your most important electronic devices at will.

Heating and heat generation

Especially during the winter months, a blackout is associated with unpleasant consequences. In the event of a heating failure, you can prevent freezing temperatures in your home by equipping yourself with an emergency heating system. In this way, self-sufficient heat can be generated and you can survive even long power outages unscathed.

It goes without saying that no open fire should be made indoors, even in the event of a power failure. The best source of heating is an emergency heater or a gas heater. In addition, you will need a sufficient supply of gas cartridges or fuel. When using the heater, make sure that the room is adequately ventilated to avoid health risks. It is especially recommended to use the gas-fired stoves in combination with a CO2 detector.

Cooking without power supply

When the oven and stove fail their services, you have to rely on an alternative to heat and prepare water and food. Gas stoves make cooking particularly easy and safe during a power outage. Here, too, you should make sure to have a sufficient quantity of gas cartridges on hand.

In the event of a blackout, the gas stove is useful both for preparing food and for boiling water. If clean drinking water is not available, you can remove bacteria and germs from water by boiling it. In addition, the gas stove can be used to heat water for washing.

Light generation

During a blackout, it is important not to have to sit in the dark during the dark evening hours. Appropriate light sources allow you to cook, eat, complete your tasks and sit with loved ones in the light during the crisis.

Candles are the main tools for uncomplicated light generation for home use. Gas lamps illuminate even larger rooms thanks to their high luminosity. LED headlamps allow you to maintain orientation even outdoors. In addition, you should remember to have a sufficient supply of batteries, gas cartridges and matches.

Durable emergency food

The Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance recommends having food and drink in stock for at least 10 days. Since refrigerators and freezers fail their services in the event of a prolonged power outage, you should choose food that will not spoil even without refrigeration. Your emergency stockpile should have a good shelf life, be edible without preparation, and be easy to stow away. Since a balanced and nutritious diet is of great importance in the event of an emergency, products with high nutritional value are recommended.

If you want to safely cool food or medicines during a blackout, you can resort to a cool box. This enables refrigeration for up to 12 days - completely without electricity or other energy sources.

Clean drinking water

In addition to sufficient amounts of food, drinking water is of utmost importance. An adult human needs about 2 liters of water per day. During a blackout, you can resort to packaged drinking water or store tap water. Since there may be reduced water quality during a blackout, it is also recommended to use a water filter.

Hygiene

Even during an emergency, it is important to pay attention to personal hygiene. When the toilet flush, shower and sink are no longer usable, hygiene products enable you to feel good about your body and thus more comfortable. In the event of an increased risk of infection, these provide you with cleanliness and protection.

Safely and independently through any crisis

A blackout is associated with unforeseeable complications and problems for society as a whole. When the power supply is interrupted for an extended period of time, the entire infrastructure inevitably collapses. However, if you make good preparations and have basic equipment for power outages, you can survive a blackout unscathed and without any problems.

Self-sufficient power generation, gas heating, emergency food and other equipment will provide you with independence and security. With a good emergency equipment you can provide for yourself and your family even in times of need and do not have to fear any dangers. Take precautions to be prepared for any situation!