In previous articles, we have already analyzed how to save heat without heating and what to do with electricity. What remains is what is mentioned less often, although it creates the most problems with long-term outages: water, communication and everyday life. At the moment when everything turned off, it is too late to buy, because stores work without terminals, and the necessary goods disappear in hours.

Water

Water supply depends on electricity directly. Pumping stations work on electricity, so they also stop during emergency shutdowns due to shelling. The upper floors of high-rise buildings lose water first.

How much to stock up. Recommendations vary, so I will give the range honestly. The State Production and Consumer Service advises that approximately 2.5 to 3 litres of drinking water and 2 to 4 litres of technical water per person per day should be prepared. Other experts call the higher numbers: 3 liters of drinking and up to 10 liters for cooking and hygiene. For sanitary needs, 10-15 liters per day are separately called. The difference is explained by what is included in the calculation. The minimum for survival and a comfortable life are different numbers. The standard benchmark for emergency stock is the three-day norm. Practically for a family of three, it is approximately 30 liters of drinking water and several twenty-liter technical canisters.

What to store. Containers made of food-grade plastic, glass jars, canisters without extraneous odor or enameled dishes. Containers must be clean and airtight. Bottles made from sweet drinks are not suitable, because the remaining sugar creates an environment for the reproduction of bacteria even after washing.

It should be stored in a cool, dark place, away from light.

Sign the containers. Drinking, for cooking, technical. In the dark by the light of a flashlight, it is impossible to distinguish them otherwise, and a mistake here is expensive.

Update stock. Use fresh water first, and leave older supplies in case recovery is delayed. Change the contents of the containers once every few months.

Disinfection. Boiling for at least ten minutes. Boiled water is stored for no longer than a day, although in an emergency this requirement is neglected. For technical water, there are special tablets based on chlorine or silver ions, which are sold in tourist stores. It is worth having them in advance, because even a specialized service will not be able to quickly check the water for microbiology.

What doesn't work. Folk recipes with salt, vinegar and aspirin do not disinfect water, but only spoil the taste. A silver spoon in a jar somewhat restrains the growth of bacteria, but it is not a panacea against serious pollution.

Technical water. Dial a bathtub or large containers immediately when a warning appears about possible shutdowns. It takes about 6-8 liters to flush the toilet, and this is the largest expense item in everyday life without water supply.

Communication

Base stations automatically switch to backup power when the light disappears. The absolute majority use batteries, which last for several hours, after which generators are connected. An important detail: even with blackout, base stations retain functionality for calls and SMS, and problems arise with the mobile Internet. Therefore, if the signal is weak, do not try to open the messenger, but send a regular SMS. Batteries of base stations are charged for a day, and there are enough of them for several hours. With daily shutdowns, they simply do not have time to charge, and every day the communication schedules become worse. Communication in Ukraine has become much more stable than it was in 2022, but dependence on the duration of outages has remained.

National roaming allows the phone to automatically switch to another operator's network if yours is not available at that point. Check if this option is enabled in the settings.

Home Internet. XPON technology works without power on the provider's side in intermediate nodes, so if there is a charged router, the Internet can remain available. If you have a different technology, find out in advance. The router consumes 10-20 watts, so even a small power bank with a 12 volt output keeps it for many hours.

Turn off automatic app updates, photo synchronization, and video playback in feeds. When the network is overloaded, this is the difference between whether the message will pass.

Unbreakable points are equipped with place generators with communication, heat and the ability to charge devices. According to the State Special Communications Service, fuel is provided there for the entire difficult winter. Find the one closest to you in advance and write down the address on paper.

Food

Without electricity, the refrigerator keeps the temperature for about four hours when the door is closed, the freezer is longer.

Do not open the refrigerator unnecessarily. Each opening costs hours of product preservation.

What to stock up on? Products that do not require preparation and are stored for a long time: canned goods, instant cereals, nuts, dried fruits, galettes, honey, chocolate. Baby food if there are children in the family. A canned knife is mechanical, not electrical. A trifle that is remembered at the worst moment.

Cooking. A tourist gas burner with a supply of cylinders solves the issue of hot food. It can be used only for heating in small dishes and in a ventilated room. A gas stove is never used to heat a room, which I wrote about in detail in the material about heat.

Thermos. Unappreciated thing. Boiled boiling water keeps the temperature for many hours, and one boiling gives hot drinks for the whole evening.

Hygiene and everyday life

A section that is usually skipped, although it is what determines how tolerable a week without water will be. Wet wipes and hand antiseptic replace washing. Dry shampoo solves the issue with hair for several days. Disposable dishes save water for washing. In normal times, it's wasteful, during a blackout, it's rational. Fill in advance with household chemicals and hygiene products what you usually buy as needed. Sewerage in high-rise buildings works by gravity, so washing is possible manually with a bucket of water. Keep the technical water in the toilet separately.

Lanterns are better forehead, because they free their hands. Candles remain the main cause of household fires during shutdowns, so they should be used only in stable metal candlesticks and should never be left unattended.

Money and documents

Terminals do not work without electricity and communication, so cash becomes the only means of payment. Keep the amount at home for a few days, in small bills, because there may not be change.

Documents and important files should be kept in several places, including printed copies. Details about this in the material about the digital archive.

What can be done this week to prepare for the blackout?

  1. Buy water containers and fill them
  2. Buy tablets for water disinfection
  3. Check if there is a battery-powered radio and battery stock at home
  4. Find out the technology of your home Internet
  5. Find the nearest point of indomitability and write down the address
  6. Record key phone numbers on paper
  7. Agree with relatives about the time of communication and the place of the meeting
  8. Collect a supply of food that does not require cooking
  9. Withdraw cash in small bills
  10. Check whether power banks are charged

About the psychological side

Prolonged uncertainty exhausts more than the discomfort itself. A person endures the cold and darkness better when he understands what is happening and what to do next. Therefore, training works at two levels. Practically, it gives water, light and communication. Psychologically, it relieves the feeling of helplessness, and this affects well-being no less. Arrangements with relatives, recorded numbers and a pre-found Point of indomitability cost nothing, but remove the largest part of the alarm.

Having a supply of water for a few days is elementary preparation, not alarmism. The difference between a prepared and an unprepared family during a long shutdown is not in comfort, but in how much effort is left for everything else.


Sources: State Emergency Service of Ukraine, State Production and Consumer Service, State Special Communications Service, RBC-Ukraine, Channel 24, Ukrainian Water Association