Portugal, Spain, and other parts of Europe experienced a massive blackout this week. Cities went dark: shops closed, petrol stations shut down, cash machines stopped working, internet connections failed—and even water supplies were cut off.

Authorities initially warned the outage could last up to five days, raising alarms about cyberattacks and the risk of mass chaos. (Luckily, it only lasted a day in the end.)

Living off-grid and building a self-sufficient lifestyle meant we were largely unaffected.

But for most, the sudden loss of power meant losing access to basic survival needs—water, food, heat, communication, and transport.

While a short outage might be just an inconvenience, a longer one can quickly become a serious challenge. It’s got us wondering if there could be more to come. For years, both mainstream and “alternative” media have hinted at this possibility. If it happens again, being prepared can make the experience far less stressful.

From spending six months travelling in a camper to nearly a year living fully off-grid in our caravan, we’ve learned the essentials for surviving without power, water, or phone signal—from essentials to comforts.

So we’ve put together a blackout survival checklist—we hope you find it helpful!

1. Stay in the Light: Lighting Essentials

When the lights go out, your first priority is being able to see your way around safely. Candles and matches are handy, but also consider:

Torches (including wind-up models)
Headlamps (great for hands-free use)
Rechargeable or battery-powered lanterns

Pro Tip: Store them in easily accessible spots so you’re not hunting for them in the dark.

2. Portable Power Banks

Keep portable chargers (power banks) fully charged ahead of time. As long as phone signal and internet are still available, it’s important to stay connected and check in with your local community. You might be able to help—or be helped.

3. Keep the Essentials Flowing: Food and Water

Access to clean water and safe food is crucial during longer outages. Now might be a good time to build up your emergency supplies.

Water: Aim for at least one gallon (about 4 litres) per person per day—more in hot climates.
Food: Stock non-perishable items like canned beans, pasta, peanut butter, and granola bars.
Manual can opener: Electric ones won’t help now!

Bonus Tip: A small gas camping stove with spare canisters can be a lifesaver. It’s all very well having food stores—but if you can’t cook anything, they’re not much use.

4. Stay Warm

Blankets, sleeping bags, warm clothes, and hot water bottles are great for keeping warm. We also keep foil emergency blankets in our camper in case we get stranded in the cold.

We’ve even built an off-grid heating solution using candles under terracotta pots, which radiate a surprising amount of heat.

Layering clothes and blocking drafts can also help conserve warmth indoors.

5. Toilet Solutions

As we saw this week, running water can be affected in a blackout—and while it’s not the most pleasant topic, someone will eventually need the loo!

Consider not only where you can go, but what you’ll do with the waste. Peeing is easy (especially for guys), but needing to poo without a flushing toilet can be genuinely stressful (yes—we’ve been there!).

A simple bucket or camping toilet can work as a makeshift composting loo
Soil can be used as an alternative to sawdust
Or even a basic hole in the ground

Just be mindful of where and how you dispose of waste—especially if bin collections are suspended for a while.

6. Have Backup Plans: Emergency Gear and Supplies

A few extra items can make a big difference in a prolonged outage:

First aid kit
Cash (ATMs and card machines may be down—though only useful if shops are open)
Emergency contact list (written on paper)
Generator or solar charger—only use following all safety guidelines
Radios or long-range walkie-talkies to stay in touch with family and friends

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to become a hardcore survivalist to get through a blackout. With a bit of planning and a few essential items, you can keep your household safe, comfortable, and connected—and make the whole experience far less stressful.

How to Survive a Blackout : What You Really Need