Power Outage Preparedness When You Live Alone

A power cut is an inconvenience for most households — but for solo residents it can quickly become a safety crisis if you are unprepared.

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The average US household experiences over 8 hours of power outages per year. Extended outages can cause hypothermia, food poisoning, or medication failures.

The Challenge

Without power, heating, cooling, and medical devices may fail — and no one is home to help manage the situation.

Refrigerated medications (such as insulin) can become unsafe within hours of a power cut.

Solo residents may sit in darkness and isolation for days without a support plan in place.

How I'm Alive Helps

Keep a power outage kit: torch, power bank, battery radio, bottled water, and non-perishable food.

Know your utility's outage reporting line and local warming or cooling centres.

Use I'm Alive to notify contacts when an outage begins so they can check on you proactively.

Building Your Power Outage Kit

Store at minimum a 72-hour supply of water (1 gallon per day), non-perishable food, and any prescription medications. Keep copies of prescriptions in case you need to obtain emergency supplies. Equip your kit with LED torches, spare batteries, a fully charged power bank for your phone, a battery or hand-crank radio, and warm blankets. If you rely on electrically powered medical equipment (CPAP, oxygen concentrator, etc.), register with your electricity provider as a priority customer and have a contingency plan for prolonged outages.

Staying Safe and Communicating During an Outage

Never use a petrol generator, barbecue, or camping stove indoors — they produce deadly carbon monoxide. Only run generators outside, well away from windows and doors. In cold weather, move to one small interior room and use blankets to conserve body heat. In hot weather, go to a local cooling centre if your home becomes dangerously warm. Send a quick update through I'm Alive when the outage starts. If it is extended, your contacts will know to check on you — and a missed check-in will trigger automatic alerts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long will food last in a fridge without power?

A refrigerator keeps food safe for about 4 hours if unopened. A full freezer stays safe for about 48 hours (24 hours if half full). When in doubt, throw it out.

Is it safe to use candles during a power cut?

Candles pose a fire risk. Use battery-powered LED lights instead. If you must use candles, never leave them unattended and keep them away from flammable materials.

What should I do about refrigerated medications during an outage?

Check medication storage guidance — some are safe at room temperature for short periods. Contact your pharmacist or doctor if an outage exceeds a few hours.

How do I report a power outage?

Look up your utility provider's outage reporting line before an outage occurs and save it in your phone. Many now have outage maps and SMS reporting.

How does I'm Alive help during a power outage?

Send a check-in to all your contacts at once via the app. If your phone battery dies before you check in again, your contacts will be alerted and can send help.