The torch works. The power bank is charged. Then you discover that the torch batteries are almost flat and the charging cable fits an old phone.
These are small problems to fix on an ordinary afternoon. They become rather more frustrating when the lights are out and somebody needs help finding the bathroom.
Preparing for a longer power cut starts with checking what your household would actually need. A person living alone may want a light beside the bed and a reliable way to contact someone. A family may need several lights, enough charging capacity for essential phones and arrangements for children or pets.
The checklist below will help you put those pieces together. Three days is a useful planning period, although your circumstances may call for more.
Start with anything that cannot safely stop working
Before counting torches, identify equipment someone depends on for their health, mobility or care.
That might include a breathing device, feeding pump, powered wheelchair, care alarm or equipment used to manage a long-term condition.
Speak to the healthcare team and equipment provider about what should happen during an outage. Write down the approved backup, how long it lasts and what action to take before it runs out. Test arrangements as advised.
UK Power Networks specifically recommends discussing electrically powered medical equipment with your healthcare provider and knowing how long your backup will work. UK Power Networks preparedness advice
If eligible, join your energy supplier’s and network operator’s Priority Services Registers. They can provide additional support; you still need your own agreed care plan. Ofgem guidance
If someone is in immediate danger because essential equipment has stopped, call 999 or 112.
Make the first light easy to find
Keep a working torch somewhere you can reach without searching. Beside the bed and near the usual entrance are sensible places to consider.
Then think about what people need to do after that first minute.
A headlamp leaves both hands free for helping someone or preparing food. A lantern can provide light for a shared room. A small torch lets someone move around without taking the household’s only light with them.
For several people, plan for occasions when you need light in different places at once. Someone going upstairs should not leave everyone else sitting in darkness.
Choose equipment people can operate comfortably. Test switches, battery compartments and brightness settings. UK Prepare recommends battery-powered or wind-up torches and notes that torches are safer than candles. UK Prepare supplies guidance
Check the batteries, not just the lights
Spare batteries are useful when they are the right type and still in good condition.
Keep them in their original packaging or a suitable battery holder, and follow the equipment instructions. For rechargeable lights, check the charge and keep the correct charging lead alongside them.
Look at the stated running time for the setting you intend to use. A headline figure on the packaging may refer to the lowest brightness rather than the brightest beam.
Think about three evenings, overnight bathroom trips and any tasks that need more light. Allow a margin rather than planning to use the last of your battery capacity just as the third night begins.
Give phone charging a realistic budget
Decide which devices matter most. Phones used for emergency contact and official updates should take priority over entertainment.
A power bank can help, but its usefulness depends on the device, battery condition, charging losses and how the phone is used. Capacity figures alone do not tell you exactly how many full charges you will get.
Try your power bank with the phone and cable you intend to use. Check that charging starts, and record what it can deliver during normal use. A household with several essential phones needs to account for all of them.
Keep power banks away from heat and liquids. Use suitable cables, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and charge them uncovered in a well-ventilated place while you are awake and present. Stop using a unit that is damaged, swollen or excessively hot. Electrical Safety First power-bank guidance
During an outage, reduce unnecessary phone use and enable the battery-saving setting. Keep enough power available to receive messages and make calls.
Check how you will receive information
Keep a battery-powered or wind-up radio and learn how to tune it before you need it. Write down a useful local station and its frequency.
Save key numbers on paper as well as on your phone. In the UK, report power cuts through 105 in England, Scotland and Wales, or 03457 643643 in Northern Ireland. UK Prepare contact guidance
If you use a digital landline, ask your provider about backup power. These phones normally need electricity, and a supplied backup may cover hours rather than your whole three-day plan.
Ofcom says that people who depend on their landline and lack a working mobile or reliable mobile signal must be offered a free backup solution for emergency calls. The minimum backup duration is one hour. Discuss your actual needs, including any connected care alarm, with the relevant providers. Ofcom guidance
Look beyond devices you can charge
Walk through an ordinary day and notice where electricity does the work.
Your gas central heating may still depend on electrically powered controls and pumps. Cooking, refrigeration, door-entry systems and electrically operated furniture may also be affected.
Keep dry layers, blankets and food that does not need heating accessible. Check any essential manual-release arrangements with the manufacturer or building manager. UK Power Networks preparedness advice
For pets, consider powered equipment as well as food and water. Aquarium systems or temperature-controlled enclosures need plans suited to the animals concerned. Ask an appropriate specialist before choosing a backup.
Use this checklist to find the gaps
| Check | Ready when… |
|---|---|
| First light | A working torch is easy to reach in the dark. |
| Household lighting | People can move around without sharing one light. |
| Spare power | Correct batteries or charged replacements are available. |
| Phone charging | Power banks and cables have been tested with essential phones. |
| Information | The radio works and useful station details are written down. |
| Contacts | Emergency, utility and personal numbers are on paper. |
| Health and care | Essential equipment has an agreed, tested outage plan. |
| Daily needs | Food, water, warmth and pet arrangements are covered. |
| Longer disruption | You know who can help and where you could safely go. |
Test the plan on an ordinary evening
Try finding the lights with the room lights off. Ask another household member to connect the power bank and tune the radio.
You can simulate ordinary tasks without switching off essential equipment or interrupting anyone’s care. The point is to discover awkward switches, missing leads and unclear instructions while they are easy to fix.
If you have rooftop solar or a home battery, confirm its outage capability with the installer. Many solar systems shut down when mains electricity fails; backup operation requires suitable equipment and installation. National Energy Action solar guidance
Never operate a fuel-powered generator indoors. Any generator or larger backup system needs its own safe operating arrangements. London Fire Brigade guidance
Put a review reminder in your calendar and check supplies after using them. Charge what needs charging, replace missing batteries and update care arrangements when circumstances change.
Begin with the equipment you already own. Finding out whether it works—and whether everyone knows how to use it—is one of the most useful preparations you can make.
