What to Do During a Blackout? 12 Practical Steps

What to do during a blackout?

A blackout causes unease within minutes. The lights go out, your wifi stops working, devices stop charging, and before long you find yourself wondering: How long will this take? That's exactly when a simple step-by-step plan comes in handy.

The Dutch government advises that in an emergency situation, you seek information from reliable sources, have an emergency kit prepared, and be ready to sustain yourself for the first 72 hours.

Step 1: Stay calm and check if this is a local outage

First check:

Are the fuses still working?
Do your neighbors also not have power?
Is only your home affected, or the entire street?

Step 2: Immediately use a safe light source

Grab a flashlight or emergency light, don’t reach for candles right away. Open flames carry risks, especially if you’re in a rush or have children in your home.

A product like the Follesa emergency radio is practical here because you immediately have access to lighting and information all in one device. On the product page, it explicitly references a built-in flashlight and reading lamp.

Step 3: Reduce your phone's battery consumption

Switch your phone to low power mode and only use it when necessary. During a blackout, you will want to save battery for:

emergency calls
NL-Alert or updates
contact with family
cards or notes

A built-in power bank gives you extra flexibility to use this product wherever you are.

Step 4: Gather information

In the event of a major outage, you will want to know:

how severe the outage is
how long that could take
whether there are any additional risks
what instructions the government issues

The government therefore still explicitly lists a battery-powered or wind-up radio as a useful component of an emergency kit.

Step 5: Maintain optimal warmth and comfort

This is less critical during a short disruption. It becomes more important in the event of an extended blackout:

keep doors closed
use blankets
dress in layers
Bring the whole family together in one room

Step 6: Remember to bring water and food

Always keep drinking water and non-perishable food stocked in your home. Dutch emergency preparedness guidance emphasizes water and long-lasting food as the foundation for the first 72 hours.

Step 7: Only cook if you are properly set up to do this safely

A compact gas stove can be extremely valuable during an extended power outage. That is why Follesa’s complete emergency kit also includes a 1 gas stove, alongside a water filter, emergency radio, lantern, and first aid kit. This makes the package more relevant for real home emergency situations than a standalone gadget.

Step 8: Use your emergency radio wisely

A good blackout radio is used for:

news and updates
weather information
light in the dark
charging your phone
alarm or warning signal

That aligns perfectly with Follesa's product positioning: “stay connected”, “emergency power”, “SOS alarm”, “light when everything goes dark”.

Step 9: Help your housemates and neighbors

Most importantly, check:

seniors
people with medical dependencies
families with young children
people who live alone

Step 10: Use your refrigerator and freezer as little as possible

Only open them when necessary to keep the cold in.

Step 11: Keep important items within easy reach

Put everything in one place:

flashlight / radio
phones and cables
power bank
First Aid
water
medicines
cash
keys
copies of documents

Step 12: Learn from every outage

After the wrap-up: what worked well, what was missing for you, what would you like to add?

Conclusion

What you do during a blackout determines how much calm and control you keep. The basics are simple: light, information, power, water and a plan. That's why products that combine multiple functions are so much more capable than separate standalone parts. An emergency radio with DAB+/FM, light, SOS, power bank, and multiple charging options is exactly the kind of preparation that makes all the difference during a real power outage.

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