Create – or Build Upon – Your Backup Power Plan

With one week remaining in National Preparedness Month, this is the perfect time to build or review your backup power plan. 

We’ve all witnessed or experienced power outages resulting from extreme weather. Or construction projects. Or traffic accidents. Or squirrels on power lines. Or just about anything else.

With our aging infrastructure, outages will continue to increase. Both in frequency and in length of time.

There’s only one thing that can thwart these disruptions of our daily lives. While at the same time providing the peace of mind that comes from knowing you and your family will be safe and comfortable when they occur. And that’s backup power. 

Step One

Today I’m going to provide you with a four-step program that will help you put together your backup power strategy. Or build upon the one you’ve already started. 

The first step is to assess your power needs. This will be different for everyone, so customize it as much as possible. And remember some outages can be long lasting. 

Think about the electronic systems, appliances, and devices that are most critical to you and your family. The ones you believe must remain operational during an outage. Then calculate their power requirements. Including starting and running wattage. 

Such as your refrigerator and freezer. As well as your medical devices, lighting, and microwave oven. (Your solar-powered 2000X Generator comes to mind here.)

In addition, your tablets, laptops, cell phones, and mini fridge. (Handled by your solar-powered Patriot Power Sidekick).

Step Two

The second step is creating a backup power plan for different scenarios. Because some outages are short-term and others are long-term, this is not a one-size-fits-all proposition.

This plan should include prioritizing your critical systems. And having a strategy for recharging or refueling power sources.

The goal here, again, is to keep yourself and your family safe during a power outage. Regardless of whether it only lasts a few hours or extends to days and weeks.

In other words, your plan needs to have flexibility built into it. Think about the most likely scenarios that would result in both short and long-term outages. As well as the likelihood of them occurring in your location.

Short-term outages

Short-term outages typically last a few hours to a day. Your primary focus should be on keeping essential systems running.

These include lighting, refrigeration, and communication devices such as cell phones and radios.

A portable solar generator is ideal for these situations. It can be easily deployed to power your most critical appliances without the noise and fumes associated with traditional generators.

Make sure your power plan identifies the devices you’ll need immediately. And ensures they’re charged or connected to your backup power source.

Long-term outages

Long-term outages, such as those caused by severe storms, earthquakes, or widespread grid failures, require a more comprehensive approach.

In these situations, you’ll need to prioritize not only basic needs, but also your ability to maintain a comfortable living environment. This might involve powering heating or cooling systems, cooking appliances, and additional communication tools. 

For extended power loss, a solar generator with a larger capacity and the ability to recharge via solar panels is a smart investment. Your plan should include a strategy for rationing power. Especially if sunlight is limited. 

Set up a schedule for recharging essential devices and appliances to maximize the efficiency of your power source. Additionally, ensure you have a backup plan for fuel or alternative charging methods. Such as using a car or a secondary generator if available.

Steps Three & Four

The last two steps are all about testing and maintenance. They may not be as sexy as formulating a plan and acquiring the necessary equipment. 

But they are crucial to the success of your backup power plan. They may be what keeps a well-planned strategy from failing at the last moment.

The third step is to regularly test your backup power system to make sure it is ready to go when you need it the most.

The fourth step is to update your backup power plan regularly. The number of people in your household – and their needs – might change. As could weather patterns. 

The number of and types of electronic devices you own could also change over time. And remember to charge your generator every 6 months.

There is no better time than National Preparedness Month to launch or revisit your backup power plan. When – not if – a crisis strikes, you’ll be among the prepared.