Thankfully, power outages are less common in 2012 than they have been in previous decades. All developed and the majority of developing countries can rely on dependable mains electricity to meet a household’s basic needs, from simple lighting to boiling a kettle and powering an internet connection.

That said, power outages still occur from time to time, so it’s important to be prepared when they do.

Putting together an emergency pack

The most basic way to prepare your home for a power outage is to keep an emergency pack in a handy location. This should include a torch and plenty of new batteries, so you have a basic way of seeing where you’re going. Just in case your batteries are out of date, or your torch is unexpectedly broken, stash a few candles and a box of matches in your emergency pack too. That way, you’ll never be caught without a light source.

You should also add a bottle of water and some dry food to your emergency pack. If you only have problems with your electricity supply, it’s likely you’ll still have running water. However, if your electricity is out due to a natural disaster, there’s a strong chance your other utilities will be unavailable too. Similarly, having dry food means you’ll be able to eat without opening your fridge. Remember, your fridge and freezer won’t have electricity during a power outage so avoid opening them if you can in order to ensure that the food inside stays at the right temperature.

A fully-charged mobile phone with pre-paid credit is another handy item to have during a power outage. That’s because, although your phone may be working when the outage initially happens, you won’t be able to charge it until your power returns. A back up phone means you’ll always be able to call your friends and family to let them know you’re safe or to ask for assistance, even if your regular mobile phone is out of battery.

Accidents happen easily in the dark, so don’t forget to include a first aid kit in your emergency pack. And finally, include a few things to do – for instance, a deck of cards or a board game – to stave off boredom until the outage is over.

Long-term preparation

If you live in an area where power cuts happen regularly, think about long term adjustments you can make. Generator rental, for instance, might be a convenient and cost-effective option if you anticipate several power cuts during a certain time of year. For people in hot climates, battery powered fans will be a worthy investment to cope with heat during a power outage, while warm blankets and gel hand warmers are handy ways to stave off the cold.