What should you do in the first hour of a power outage?

Six steps

1. Check the fuse box. Is it just your home, or the whole building and street?
2. Flashlight, not a candle. Candles are a common cause of house fires during outages.
3. Unplug sensitive devices (TV, computer, router) — there can be a surge when the power returns. Leave one lamp switched on so you know when it is back.
4. Keep the fridge and freezer closed. A closed fridge keeps food cold for about 4 hours, a full freezer for about 48 hours.
5. Turn on a battery or crank radio for official information, and switch your phone to battery saver.
6. In winter: dress in layers, gather in one room and close the doors to the other rooms.

Never do this

• Never run a generator indoors, in a garage, basement, on a balcony or near a window — carbon monoxide kills without any smell.
• Never plug a generator into a wall outlet. Connecting it to the house wiring is a job for a licensed electrician with a transfer switch.
• Never bring a charcoal grill or an outdoor stove into your home.

For longer outages

For 72 hours in an apartment, 2–3 power banks and LED lights are usually enough. For two weeks, plan an energy budget (watts × hours + 20% reserve) and consider a 500–1,000 Wh power station with a solar panel.