Cheat sheet: Blackout and urban survival

1. 1List your dependencies – Walk through your home: what stops working without power?
2. 2Light without a flame – Keep a torch or headlamp for every person in a fixed place you can find in the dark, plus spare batteries or a charged rechargeable light.
3. 3Secure a source of information – A battery, crank or solar radio receives official announcements even when the internet and mobile networks fail.
4. 4Power for the phone – Keep at least one power bank charged and charging cables ready.
5. 5Keep cash at hand – Card payments and cash machines usually do not work without power.
6. 6Contact plan on paper – Write important phone numbers, the address of a meeting point and a contact person outside the region on paper.
7. 7Check supplies – Keep drinking water, food that can be eaten without cooking, medication and warm blankets in stock – according to your authority's guidance.
8. 8Check regularly – Check batteries, power-bank charge and expiry dates at fixed intervals, for example when the clocks change.

Danger: Anyone who depends on electrically powered medical devices (e.g. ventilation, oxygen concentrator, home dialysis) must clarify in advance with their doctor, care service or device supplier what to do in a power outage. In danger, call the local emergency number (112 in the EU).

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1. 1One light per person – Give every person a torch or headlamp.
2. 2One room, one lantern – Use one lantern for the shared living room.
3. 3Save energy – Use low brightness settings and switch lights off when not needed.
4. 4If candles are used: firm rules – Only in stable, non-flammable holders on a fire-resistant base, with distance to anything flammable, never unattended.
5. 5Extinguishing means at hand – Keep a fire extinguisher or fire blanket within reach if naked flames are used.

Danger: If you smell gas, do not light a flame or operate switches. Leave the building and call the emergency number or the gas emergency service from outside (112 in the EU).

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1. 1Read the manual – Read the manufacturer's manual before first use – not during the outage.
2. 2Outdoor location – Set the generator outdoors on firm, dry ground, far from windows, doors, vents and neighbouring buildings, with the exhaust pointing away…
3. 3Check carbon monoxide alarms – Make sure battery-powered CO alarms in the home are working, especially near bedrooms.
4. 4Connect devices individually – Connect devices directly to the generator using suitable, undamaged outdoor extension cords.
5. 5Refuel safely – Switch the generator off and let it cool, then refuel.
6. 6Watch for warning signs – If the CO alarm sounds or symptoms such as headache and dizziness occur: everyone into fresh air immediately, call the emergency number, do…

Danger: Never run generators indoors or in partly enclosed spaces – not in a garage or basement, and not with windows and doors open. Carbon monoxide can still build up to lethal levels.

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1. 1Beforehand: keep power banks full – Charge power banks fully and check them regularly, for example when the clocks change.
2. 2Save power at once – Switch on power-saving mode, turn down brightness, switch off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, close unneeded apps.
3. 3Divide phones in the household – Do not use all devices at once: one phone stays on for emergency calls and warnings, others are switched off and kept as a reserve.
4. 4Keep the battery warm – Cold reduces usable battery capacity.
5. 5Car as a charging station – outdoors only – With a USB adapter the car can charge devices.
6. 6Use public charging points – In longer outages municipalities often set up contact points with backup power.

Danger: Only run a car for charging outdoors – never in a garage, not even with the door open. Keep the exhaust free of snow. Exhaust contains carbon monoxide, which kills without warning.

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1. 1Test beforehand – Check on a sunny and on a cloudy day how long your panel takes to charge a power bank noticeably.
2. 2Position correctly – Place the panel in direct sunlight without shade, outdoors rather than behind glass if possible, and face it towards the sun.
3. 3Charge the power bank first – Many phones stop charging when a cloud passes.
4. 4Re-aim – The sun moves.
5. 5Allocate energy – Use what the panel delivers first for light, radio and one emergency phone – not for entertainment.

Caution: Put the phone and power bank in the shade while charging (only the panel in the sun). Overheated batteries can be permanently damaged.

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1. 1List devices and medication – Note every power-dependent device with manufacturer, model, battery run time according to the supplier and hotline, plus all medication…
2. 2Talk to professionals – Clarify with the doctor, care service and device supplier: are there spare batteries or a spare device?
3. 3Register where possible – Some grid operators, municipalities or care services keep lists of people with power-dependent devices.
4. 4Keep batteries charged – Always keep device batteries and approved spare batteries charged and check them regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions.
5. 5Set a trigger point – Set down in writing at which remaining run time you get help or move – early enough that transport is still possible despite traffic chaos…
6. 6Involve supporters – At least two people nearby know the plan, know where the documents are and drop by during an outage, even if the phone does not work.

Danger: If a life-sustaining device fails or the battery reserve is running low and no backup is available: call the local emergency number (112 in the EU) in good time or go to hospital or a facility with backup power as agreed – do not wait until the last minute.

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1. 1List the need – Which devices, how many hours per day, how many days?
2. 2Rough calculation – Watts × hours = watt-hours per day.
3. 3Choose to match – For phone and lamp one or two power banks are usually enough.
4. 4Keep charged – Store according to the manufacturer and recharge regularly, e.g. whenever the clocks change.
5. 5Use sparingly in an outage – Communication and light first, comfort later.

Danger: For powered medical devices do not rely on your own calculations: clarify with doctor, care service and device supplier which backup supply is suitable.

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1. 1Make saving a habit – Enable autosave and save manually at short intervals, especially when severe weather is forecast.
2. 2Back up – Back up important data regularly to a second medium and a second location.
3. 3UPS for the essentials – Connect computer, network storage or router to a small UPS.
4. 4Be prepared offline – Keep important contacts, the employer's emergency contact and documents available on paper or offline too.
5. 5Unplug during the outage – Unplug sensitive devices and plug them back in one by one only once power has returned steadily.

Caution: Do not operate wired devices during a thunderstorm; unplug sensitive devices beforehand where possible. Surge protection in a power strip does not protect against everything, especially not nearby lightning strikes.

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1. 1Beforehand: thermometers and cold – Put thermometers in the fridge and freezer.
2. 2Keep the doors closed – Open the fridge and freezer as rarely as possible.
3. 3Use non-perishable food – Eat food that keeps without refrigeration first, so the appliances can stay closed.
4. 4Check after the outage – Read the thermometers.
5. 5Assess frozen food – According to USDA guidance, frozen food that still contains ice crystals or is at 4 °C (40 °F) or below can be refrozen; quality may suffer.
6. 6When in doubt, throw it out – If you do not know how long or how warm something was, throw it away.

Danger: When in doubt, throw it out. Never taste food to check whether it is still good – pathogens often do not change smell or appearance.

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1. 1Beforehand: fill gaps – Fill empty compartments in the freezer with water bottles (not filled to the brim) or ice packs.
2. 2Beforehand: order – Store frozen food packed together with raw meat at the bottom so that meltwater does not reach anything else.
3. 3During the outage: keep it shut – Keep doors and lids closed.
4. 4Relieve the fridge – If it is clear that the outage will last longer, move perishable food (milk, meat, leftovers) into a cool box with frozen bottles …
5. 5Insulate outside – with care – A blanket over the freezer can help; vents and the compressor area stay clear, and the blanket comes off as soon as the power is back.
6. 6Record the temperature – Note the time the outage began and read the thermometers at the end.

Danger: When in doubt, throw it out: spoiled food cannot be recognised by smell or appearance, and heating does not always make it safe.

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1. 1Clarify: water gone or sewer disrupted? – Follow radio announcements and the utility's instructions.
2. 2Bucket flush – Pour a few litres of utility water (rainwater, used washing-up water) briskly into the bowl.
3. 3Set up a bag toilet – Empty the bowl or bail out the water, put in two strong bin bags or line a bucket with them.
4. 4Seal and store bags – Change bags as needed, press out the air, knot them firmly and store them in a closable container in a cool, shaded, child-proof place…
5. 5Organise hand hygiene – A wash station next to the toilet: canister or bottle of utility water, soap, a catch bowl.
6. 6Personal hygiene with little water – A flannel wash instead of a shower, brushing teeth with a cup of drinking water, wet wipes in between.

Danger: In floods or when sewage is backing up, do not flush: sewage can be pushed into the home. Then use only the bag toilet and follow the authorities' instructions.

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1. 1Know your system – Note heating type, location of the boiler and shut-off valves, the specialist's emergency number.
2. 2Keep the heat in – Close doors to unused rooms, gather in one room, close curtains and shutters at night, let in sun during the day.
3. 3Keep people warm – Wear layers, a hat, warm drinks, blankets and sleeping bags.
4. 4Frost protection – If the temperature in the building drops towards freezing, shut off the water and have pipes drained as agreed beforehand.
5. 5Restart – When power returns, check whether the heating restarts by itself.

Danger: Never heat with a gas hob, oven, barbecue, camping stove, charcoal or outdoor heaters. Carbon monoxide is invisible, odourless and can be fatal. With headache, dizziness or nausea get to fresh air immediately and call the local emergency number (112 in the EU).

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1. 1Know your building – Ask the management or caretaker: is there a booster pump or sewage pump?
2. 2Stock in the flat – Keep a drinking water stock for several days in food-grade containers and rotate it regularly.
3. 3Fill immediately when the power fails – If water still runs, fill containers, pots and a cleaned bathtub (as utility water).
4. 4Save water – Flush the toilet with a bucket only when needed; collect dishes, use wipes and hand sanitiser.
5. 5Organise fetching water – Agree with neighbours where water still runs on lower floors or outdoor taps and who supplies older or sick people.

Caution: Only drink water from clean, food-grade containers. If the supplier issues a boil-water notice or warning, follow it.

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1. 1Keep a radio ready – Keep a battery, crank or solar radio with spare batteries and note the frequencies of the regional stations used for official information.
2. 2Know the warning channels – Find out how your region issues warnings: sirens, radio, warning apps, mobile alerts (cell broadcast where available), loudspeaker vans.
3. 3Numbers on paper – Write the most important numbers and addresses on a card for your wallet and go bag.
4. 4Messages instead of calls – Short text messages need less network capacity and are often delivered as soon as there is a brief connection.
5. 5Out-of-area contact – A contact person in another region is often easier to reach than relatives in the affected area.
6. 6Save battery – Turn on power-saving mode, lower brightness, close apps you do not need and switch the phone off at times when there is no network.
7. 7Local contact points – Some municipalities set up contact points during longer outages where information and emergency calls are available.

Danger: In a life-threatening situation, call the local emergency number (112 in the EU). If the phone does not work, get help from neighbours, a fire station, a police station or a contact point set up by the municipality.

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1. 1Get to know each other beforehand – A chat in the hallway, a courtyard party or a notice is enough: who would like to take part during outages?
2. 2Clarify needs and skills – Who lives alone, needs care, has small children or animals?
3. 3Set up an information point – During an outage put a notice in the entrance with date and time: current radio announcements, location of the emergency contact point, who…
4. 4Check regularly – At fixed times ring or knock on the door of people who need support: warmth, water, medication, mood.
5. 5Share instead of hoarding – Shared solutions save resources: one radio in the hallway, cooking together outdoors, sharing charging opportunities, pooling shopping.
6. 6Connect with official points – One person goes to the municipality's emergency contact point, reports emergencies that cannot be reported otherwise and brings back…

Danger: In a life-threatening situation – unconsciousness, breathing difficulty, fire, suspected carbon monoxide – alert the local emergency number (112 in the EU) at once or, if it cannot be reached, the municipality's emergency contact point.

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1. 1Check the technology – Check with the installer or manual whether the alarm, video doorbell and electric locks have a battery and how long it lasts.
2. 2Reduce opportunities – Close doors and windows, do not leave basement windows or garages open, keep valuables out of sight.
3. 3Light without flame – Solar or battery lights at the entrance and path help orientation.
4. 4Neighbourhood – Exchange phone numbers with neighbours, tell each other about absences and look out for each other.
5. 5Out in the dark – Where possible do not go out alone, and only with a light; traffic lights fail – cross with extra care as a pedestrian.

Danger: Never confront or follow suspicious people yourself. Keep your distance, observe, remember what you see and inform the police via the local emergency number (112 in the EU) or the local police number.

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1. 1Hazards first – Check whether the cooker, iron, fan heater or other heating appliances are still switched on. Put out candles once the light is back.
2. 2Reconnect devices gradually – First fridge, freezer and heating, then other devices one by one.
3. 3Check heating and water – Does the heating come back on?
4. 4Assess food – Read the thermometers and estimate how long the outage lasted.
5. 5Reset clocks, alarms and devices – Check alarm clocks, timers, alarm systems and routers.
6. 6Restock supplies – Charge power banks and batteries, replace used batteries, water and food.

Danger: After a flood or water ingress, do not switch on circuit breakers and do not use wet appliances. Have a qualified electrician check first.

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1. 1Explore beforehand – Read the manuals for garage door, gate and shutters, find the release or crank and practise once in daylight.
2. 2Keep keys ready – Keep a mechanical key for front door, garage and letterbox at hand.
3. 3If the lift stops – Stay calm, press the alarm button and speak when someone answers.
4. 4Avoid the lift – When outages are announced or the power flickers take the stairs.
5. 5Release the door – Door closed, drive without power, manual at hand: operate the release, move the door slowly with both hands.

Danger: In a stuck lift do not force the doors open and do not climb out of the car – the car can move and there is a risk of falling into the shaft. Press the alarm button and wait for trained helpers. In case of breathing difficulty, panic or a medical emergency call the local emergency number (112 in the EU).

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1. 1Decide on an amount – Consider what food, medication and possibly travel would cost for a few days.
2. 2Small denominations – Keep small notes and coins, split between two places (e.g. supplies cupboard and go bag).
3. 3Fuel and consumption – Petrol pumps need power.
4. 4Key details on paper – Keep bank details, card blocking number, insurance numbers and contacts in a document folder.
5. 5Check and refresh – Check the reserve once a year and refill immediately after use.

Caution: Fraud attempts increase in crises, e.g. fake tradespeople, alleged officials or donation appeals. Ask for ID, do not pay at the door and if in doubt inform the police via the local emergency number (112 in the EU) or the local police number.

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1. 1First hour – Check whether only your own home is affected (fuses, neighbours).
2. 2First day – Keep the fridge closed, eat perishable food first.
3. 3Days two to three – Count supplies and water, organise toilet and hygiene without running water, keep a daily structure with set times for meals, sleep and…
4. 4Decision point – Check deliberately every day: heat, water, medication, health, energy.
5. 5If you leave – Leave a note on the door or for the family, shut off water and power as planned, take medication, documents, chargers and warm clothing.

Danger: If the home becomes dangerously cold or hot, people depend on power for medical devices, or water or medication runs out, do not hold out: move in time to relatives or official help points. In an emergency call the local emergency number (112 in the EU).

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