Lessons Learned From My First Real Power Outage

[PrepperLinda65]

Lost power for 36 hours after last week's storm and got a real taste for what works—and what doesn't. My biggest surprise was how fast batteries drained in the LED lanterns once it got dark and everyone wanted their own light. Also, keeping the fridge closed became a battle of wills with grandkids. Anybody have strategies for rationing battery use or keeping food safe with multiple people in the house? Would love to hear how others manage household routines when the grid's down longer than just a few hours.

 

[CrimsonWren145]

Keeping everyone on a flashlight schedule helped us a lot. I also put a big sign on the fridge: "THINK BEFORE OPENING"—worked better than nagging! Anyone try solar chargers for lanterns?

 

[MarigoldBreeze]

That “THINK BEFORE OPENING” sign is genius—visual reminders work better than constant reminders from me, too. I’ve had some luck with solar USB chargers for smaller lights, though they’re way slower to recharge than I hoped, especially if it’s cloudy. For batteries, I’ve started color-coding for each person so we can track who’s using what and swap out only when absolutely needed. Anyone else notice people treating the fridge like a vending machine when the power’s out?