Quiz: is your home prepared for a power outage?
Outages can last from minutes to days. A checklist helps you see what you already have and what is missing.
Short answer: to be prepared for a power outage, have alternative lighting, a way to charge your phone, water and food that do not depend on electricity, a plan for medicines and health equipment, and safety rules for candles, generators and appliances. This quiz helps you see what is already ready. It is a general guide, and each home has its own needs.
How to use the quiz
Answer "yes" or "no" to each item. The more "yes" answers, the better prepared your home is.
Items to assess
Lighting
- Do you have flashlights or lanterns with charged batteries?
- Do you know where they are, and can you find them in the dark?
- Do you avoid relying on candles, which are a fire risk?
Communication and information
- Do you have a charged portable charger (power bank)?
- Do you have a battery-powered radio for news?
- Are emergency numbers and contacts written down on paper?
Food and water
- Is there food that needs no refrigeration or cooking for a few days?
- Do you know how long a closed refrigerator keeps food (and avoid opening it)?
- Do you have drinking water stored?
Health
- Does anyone at home depend on electrical health equipment? Is there a contingency plan and contact with the utility or health service?
- Do medicines that need refrigeration have an alternative?
- Is there a first-aid kit?
Safety
- Do you know how to unplug sensitive appliances to avoid damage when power returns?
- If you use a generator, is it outdoors, away from windows, to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning?
- Is there an extinguisher or a way to deal with a small fire?
How to interpret
- 12 to 15 "yes": good preparation.
- 7 to 11: partial preparation; prioritize lighting, communication and health.
- Fewer than 7: start with the safety items and those for people who depend on equipment.
Next steps
Put together a simple kit and keep it in a known place. Replace batteries and charge power banks periodically. Talk with the family about what to do.
Counterpoints
Not every home needs extensive preparation; it depends on how often outages occur and on residents' needs. People who depend on health equipment should seek specific guidance from the health service and the utility.