Half an hour that makes a power cut easier
Most power cuts are over quickly. A little quiet preparation, done on an ordinary afternoon rather than in the dark, turns the next one from a scramble into a non-event. Here is half an hour well spent.
A torch, not your phone
Keep a real torch where you can reach it without looking: by the bed, and near the back door. A torch is brighter and safer than a phone, and it does not drain the phone you may want for other things. Check the batteries now and again, and keep a spare set with it.
Keep a power bank charged
A charged power bank keeps your phone alive for calls and messages if the mains is off for a while. Top it up every few weeks so it is ready when you need it.
Know the free 105 line
If the power goes off, you can call 105 for free from anywhere in Great Britain. It connects you to your local network operator to report the cut and get updates. Save it in your phone today, so it is there when the screen is the only light in the room.
Warmth and food, without fuss
- Keep a couple of warm layers and a blanket somewhere easy to find, in case the heating is off.
- A small store of food you can eat without cooking, and a manual tin opener, covers a mealtime or two.
- If the power does go, keep the fridge and freezer closed. An unopened freezer holds its cold for around a day.
That is genuinely most of it
None of this is about fear, and none of it needs a special shop. It is a torch, a charged battery, a phone number, and a few things you already own put somewhere sensible. Half an hour now, and the next power cut is just a quiet evening.