The power goes out. What you do in the first few minutes decides whether the blackout is an anecdote or a problem. This is the order, no fuss.
IN 30 SECONDS
- 1. Check if it’s just your flat
- 2. LED light, never candles
- 3. Keep fridge and freezer shut
- 4. Radio on
- 5. Fill the bath
- 6. Unplug sensitive devices
Minutes 1-5: confirm what’s happening
- Check the fuse box (cuadro eléctrico). If a breaker or the RCD has tripped, the problem is yours: flip it back up. If it trips again, a device is short-circuiting: unplug things and try again.
- Look outside or ask a neighbour. If the building or the street is dark, it’s a supply cut. Don’t touch the fuse box.
- Grab a head torch. Hands free for everything else. No candles: they are the most common cause of fires during blackouts.
Minutes 5-30: secure your home
- Don’t open the fridge or freezer. Kept shut, they stay cold for hours.
- Unplug computer, TV and large appliances. There may be surges when power returns. Leave one lamp plugged in so you know when it’s back.
- Fill the bath and a bucket or two. In a block of flats, water is pumped up electrically: while there’s still pressure, store it for flushing and washing up.
- Turn on the radio. It will tell you how widespread the cut is and how long it may last.
- Put your phone in power-saving mode. Minimum brightness, essentials only.
If someone is stuck in the lift
They should not try to get out on their own or force the doors. They should press the alarm button and wait: lifts have rescue systems. If the person is unwell, call 112.
If the cut drags on
- Live off your kit: stored water and food that needs no fridge. If you don’t have one, see the 72-hour kit.
- Check on elderly neighbours or anyone who depends on an electrical device.
- Use 112 only for emergencies: the line is for people who really need it.
- If you go out, be careful: traffic lights will be off.
- For cuts lasting several days, follow the 30-day protocol.
Never use a petrol generator, a barbecue or a camping stove to heat your home indoors. Carbon monoxide has no smell and it kills.
When the power comes back
- Plug devices back in gradually, not all at once.
- Check your food: perishables that spent more than 4 hours in an unpowered fridge go in the bin. We explain it in how long food lasts without a fridge.
- Restock the kit: charge the power bank, replace batteries and note what you were missing.
Sources: Protecció Civil, Generalitat de Catalunya (self-protection); USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (food storage).
Keep it on paper for when there's no power or internet.