What’s Your Top Priority After the Power Goes Out?

[ChamomileCraze]

First thing I do is check my water sources and secure any perishables. If it looks like an extended outage, I move to lighting and alternate heat. What’s the very first step you all take—security sweep, radio check, or something else?

 

[OrbitJazz21]

First thing I do is grab my headlamp and check the breaker to make sure it's not just my house. After that, I go straight for the battery bank—want to know how much juice I've got for basic stuff like my radio and keeping the fridge running. If it’s dark out, I do a quick look outside just to get a sense of what’s happening on the block. Anybody else have solar hooked up for these situations?

 

[GarnetDusk]

Checking the breaker’s smart—never want to start flipping into emergency mode if it’s just a blown fuse. I do similar, but my next step is always making sure the wood stove’s prepped, especially if it’s winter. Heat’s the critical thing for me, and without power, most folks lose theirs quick. I’ve got small solar as backup, but honestly it only keeps essentials running—lights, radio, low-draw devices. Fridge is off-grid on propane, so perishables buy me more time than most.

One thing I’ve learned from old timers: first few minutes are for quiet observation. Know if it’s just your street or the whole area, listen for neighborhood sounds changing, all that tells you a lot. Only after that do I run a sweep of the property, make sure nothing looks off.

Does anyone here have experience with DC-powered freezers tied to solar?