On 28th April there was a massive power outage that hit Spain and other European countries. Within 5 seconds 60% of the grid network power collapsed and millions of households were affected. Public transport was at a standstill, internet and mobile phone services were down and emergency services were operating in crisis mode. This was the worst electricity blackout in Spain´s history.
Perhaps one of the most worrying aspects for many people was not knowing why, what the cause was or how long it would last. Some people enjoyed the peace and quiet and no interruptions. I was astounded at how quiet and peaceful the valley was.
We have shared an evacuation guide in our Friendship and Support booklet and in a previous newsletter as advice in the event of major fire or floods. But what can we learn from this major incident?
Paying by phone or card has become the norm for many of us and many do not carry cash anymore. Queues formed at the cash machines that still worked, but many ceased to work or ran out of cash.
Cash is still king! Where possible keep some cash handy for an emergency. People could not buy fuel for their cars, food in supermarkets etc.
The power cut lead to an information blackout as people spent the day without internet, WhatsApp, calls and TV, so many had no idea what was going on and how long it would last. This in turn lead to speculation and trying to piece together news.
Those with a battery-operated radio were best informed. An essential piece of kit for back-to-basics communication and staying informed. But keep some spare batteries handy!
Microwaves, air fryers and some hobs and ovens demand electricity so food that does not require electricity to heat or prepare is invaluable such as canned fish, dry pasta and rice (if you have a gas hob), tinned soups, sauces etc. If you have access to a small gas camping stove you were lucky.
Although candles and naked flames can pose a fire risk, many people do not possess a battery-operated light so had to resort to candlelight (romantic but risky). These are definitely worth considering, as is a good torch with working batteries. Keep some spare batteries just in case. Also useful if you need to get up in the night to visit the toilet and be safe.
Today some people have a solar powered phone charger which should be kept fully charged or a powerbank which requires electricity to charge it but will store a charge and last for many hours in the event of a power failure.
Bottled water, a first-aid kit, baby supplies, a few days´ worth of medication, sanitary items, a few days of pet food, fuel in your car. Basically anything that is important to you, don’t let it run too low. We never know when an emergency will occur.
If it is safe to leave your home to check on any vulnerable friends and neighbours please consider doing so. It can be scary if you live alone or are vulnerable and don’t know what is happening or what to do.
Above all, stay safe.