Emergency Power Preparedness: Building Your Backup Power Kit

Power outages happen. Whether caused by summer storms, bushfires threatening infrastructure, grid overload during heatwaves, or simple equipment failure, Australians regularly experience interruptions to their electricity supply. For some, it's a minor inconvenience lasting a few hours. For others, particularly those in rural areas or regions prone to severe weather, outages can extend for days.

Modern life depends heavily on electricity. When the power goes out, you lose not just lights but also refrigeration, communication devices, medical equipment, and the ability to access critical information. Building a reliable backup power system doesn't require massive investment, but it does require thoughtful preparation.

Understanding Your Power Needs

Before purchasing emergency power equipment, assess what you actually need to run during an outage. Divide your needs into categories:

Critical: Must Have Power

• Communication: Mobile phones for emergency calls and information updates
• Medical equipment: CPAP machines, medication refrigeration, powered mobility devices
• Lighting: At least basic lighting for safety and navigation
• Information access: Radio or internet-connected device for emergency updates

Important: Helpful to Have

• Refrigeration: Keeping food from spoiling during extended outages
• Cooking: Electric kettle or basic cooking appliance if no gas
• Fans/cooling: Temperature management during summer outages
• Device charging: Laptops, tablets for children, entertainment

Convenience: Nice to Have

• Television and entertainment
• Full kitchen appliances
• Climate control (heating/cooling)

Focus your preparedness on critical needs first. A single well-chosen power bank can address communication needs for several days. More elaborate setups with power stations handle a broader range of needs.

Building Your Emergency Power Kit

Tier 1: Basic Emergency Kit (Essential)

Every household should have at minimum:

One quality power bank (20,000mAh+): Provides multiple smartphone charges for essential communication. Keep it charged and ready. A 20,000mAh power bank offers 4-6 phone charges, potentially lasting your family several days with conservation.

USB-rechargeable flashlight or lantern: Modern LED lights run for hours on small batteries. Keeping one charged provides essential lighting during outages. Solar options can recharge indefinitely.

Portable radio (battery or crank): When internet and mobile networks fail, local radio stations continue broadcasting emergency information. Battery-powered or hand-crank radios provide grid-independent access to critical updates.

Cost for basic kit: $80-150 AUD

Tier 2: Enhanced Preparedness

For more comprehensive coverage:

Larger power bank or small power station (200-500Wh): Enables laptop charging, running small appliances, and extended phone/device charging. A 500Wh unit can run essential devices for several days with careful management.

Multiple charging cables and adapters: Ensure you can charge all family devices. Include older connectors if you have legacy devices.

12V car charger adapter: Your vehicle becomes a backup power source. A quality inverter or car USB charger lets you charge devices from your car battery.

USB-rechargeable batteries: For devices like torches, remote controls, and radios that still use AA/AAA batteries, rechargeable versions that charge via USB-C eliminate the need for disposable batteries.

Additional cost: $200-500 AUD

Tier 3: Comprehensive Home Backup

For extended outages and broader needs:

Large power station (1000Wh+): Can run refrigerators for limited periods, power multiple devices, and provide home lighting through inverter outlets. Units like the Jackery Explorer or EcoFlow Delta series offer substantial capacity.

Solar panel array: 100-200W of folding solar panels can recharge a large power station during daylight, providing indefinite power capability in sunny conditions.

Dedicated emergency supplies: Long-lasting LED lighting, battery-powered fans, and solar-rechargeable lanterns distributed throughout the home.

Additional cost: $1,000-3,000 AUD

Maintenance and Readiness

Emergency equipment only works if it's ready when you need it. Develop habits to ensure your backup power remains useful:

Regular Charging Cycles

Lithium batteries slowly self-discharge and can be damaged if left too long at very low charge. Every 2-3 months, check your emergency power bank's charge level and top it up to 50-80%. This keeps the battery healthy and ensures capacity is available when needed.

Periodic Testing

Once or twice a year, actually use your emergency equipment. Charge a phone from your power bank. Turn on your radio. Verify that everything still works. Discovering a dead power bank during an actual emergency is not ideal.

Environmental Awareness

During periods of increased risk, such as approaching storms, fire danger days, or forecast extreme weather, bring your emergency equipment to full charge. Don't wait until the power is already out.

Rotation

If you use power banks regularly for everyday purposes, consider having a dedicated emergency unit that stays home, charged and ready. Your daily-use power bank might be depleted or in your bag at work when an emergency strikes.

Special Considerations

Medical Equipment

If household members rely on powered medical equipment, emergency power planning is especially critical. Common needs include:

CPAP machines: Essential for sleep apnea patients. Most draw 30-60W. A 500Wh power station provides 8-16 hours of CPAP power. DC power adapters reduce consumption by bypassing the AC inverter. Some CPAP models have dedicated battery packs available.

Medication refrigeration: Insulin and some other medications require refrigeration. Small amounts can be kept cool temporarily with ice in a well-insulated cooler. For extended outages, dedicated medical coolers or a power station running a small fridge is necessary.

Powered mobility devices: Electric wheelchairs and scooters have large batteries but need periodic recharging. Ensure you can charge these from a vehicle or power station if grid power fails.

Consult with healthcare providers about specific backup power needs for medical equipment. Some conditions require more elaborate preparations than others.

Families with Young Children

Children add additional power considerations:

• Night lights for children afraid of the dark
• Bottle warmers for infants (or alternative warming methods)
• Tablets/devices for entertainment and distraction
• Monitors for infants if normally used

Having charged devices ready for children's entertainment can significantly reduce stress during extended outages. Include this in your preparation calculations.

Using Your Vehicle as Backup Power

Your car contains a large battery that can serve as emergency power. While not ideal for prolonged use, it's a valuable backup option:

Direct USB Charging

Most modern vehicles have USB ports that work when the car is in accessory mode (key on, engine off). This can charge phones and small devices. Be cautious about draining the car battery; start the engine periodically to recharge.

12V Inverters

A 12V to AC inverter plugged into your car's accessory outlet enables powering standard AC devices. Small inverters (150-300W) are inexpensive and can run laptops, charge power stations, or power small appliances. Run the engine while using significant loads.

Fuel Considerations

Your vehicle only works as a backup power source if it has fuel. During emergencies, petrol stations may be closed or have long queues. Maintain at least half a tank when threats are forecast.

Communication Strategy

The primary purpose of emergency power for most households is maintaining communication. Develop a strategy:

• Designate one phone as the emergency device: Other phones can be conserved or turned off while one stays available for emergency calls and information.
• Know your local emergency radio stations: ABC Local Radio broadcasts emergency information in most areas.
• Have important numbers written down: Emergency contacts, family members, utility companies. Phone batteries might be conserved for calls, not looking up numbers.
• Establish check-in protocols: Family members should have agreed times to call or text, reducing the need for constant communication attempts.

After the Outage

When power is restored:

1. Recharge all emergency equipment to full
2. Note what worked and what was lacking during the outage
3. Replace any disposable items used (batteries, etc.)
4. Consider upgrades based on your experience

Real emergencies reveal gaps in preparation. Use them as learning opportunities to improve your readiness for next time.

For portable power solutions suited to emergency preparedness, explore our product recommendations. We highlight products with features particularly useful for backup power applications.