When we think of emergency situations, floods, earthquakes, fires, and tornadoes easily come to mind. There are other emergency situations when security is important. Power outages can happen at any time due to equipment failure, severe weather like lightning storms, accidents, high energy demand, and human error. Planned outages for maintenance and upgrades also occur from time to time. It’s important that your home is secure for the duration of a blackout. Here’s what you need to know about securing your home for a power outage.

Security system status

A power outage is the worst time for your security system to stop working. Everyone will know when a power outage occurs, including criminals. A blackout could leave your home vulnerable to break-in. Any part of your security system that is plugged into your home’s electricity will lose power without battery backup. A reputable security system should have built-in battery backup for occasions such as a power outage.

According to eia.gov, U.S. electricity customers averaged 5.5 hours of power interruptions in 2022. The length of time the battery backups can operate depends on the system and brand, but the typical time is between 4 and 24 hours. Always have spare batteries in case you need to replace if the power outage drags on.

In September 2022, Hurricane Ian left over 2.6 million customers in Florida without power, some for over two weeks, according to the EIA website. Even when your security system is running on electricity, the batteries will drain, so it’s important to check them regularly and replace them at least every 3 – 5 years to ensure they will provide backup when needed.

Communication strategies

It’s important to have a plan in place for communication before a power outage occurs. During a power outage, you should conserve your cell phone battery for as long as possible, using it only when necessary. Alternative options for communication include:

• Battery-operated radios: stay updated without using your cell phone.
• Corded phones: traditional phones may still work during a power outage.
• Walkie-talkies: these are helpful to have on hand if a family member decides to head into the neighborhood to check on others.
• Satellite phones: an expensive option but highly reliable.

Additional security and safety tips

You can never be sure how long a power outage will last, so remain prepared and cautious for the duration. Here are a few extra things to consider:

• Carbon monoxide monitoring: if a power outage occurs, especially during the cold months when you will be using alternative sources of heat, you want to have working carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home.
• Perimeter security: Don’t overlook locking doors and windows to prevent easy access from potential intruders, especially during an overnight power outage.
• Emergency kit: water, non-perishable food, first-aid kit, and medications should be kept in an emergency kit.
• Surge protectors: sensitive electronics should have surge protectors or be turned off and unplugged until power is restored.
• Use a generator: this should only be used outdoors and away from the house.
• Lighting options: candles work, but you can opt for battery-operated candles for increased safety.

Securing your home during a power outage is crucial to everyone’s safety. By making sure that you have supplies ready and backup provided for security alarms and monitors, you can rest easy when one occurs.

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