Infrastructure · High likelihood
Long power cut
Hours to days without electricity, possibly across the whole region.
Stay
What makes this different
Short power cuts are common. A long, wide one (storm damage, grid failure, a cyberattack) also takes out heating, mobile masts after their backup batteries run down (often within hours), card payments, fuel pumps and eventually water pumping.
First hour
- Call 105 to report it and get an estimate.
- Switch off appliances; leave one light on.
- Fill water containers and the bath while the taps run.
- Charge nothing; conserve phone batteries.
- Get the radio, torches and warm layers out.
Stay or go?
Stay in most cases. Consider going to family elsewhere if the outage is expected to last days, it is very cold, or someone needs powered medical equipment.
Watch out for
- Carbon monoxide from stoves and generators used indoors.
- Fire from candles.
- Food poisoning from defrosted food.
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