Communications

This is a hard one to answer.

Lets start off with what will work if there a power cut.

You can still buy these types of phone and they will work.

These wont, they need electricity

Will my mobile phone still work?  Its got a battery !

The cell phone masts need electricity and wont work in a power cut.

Now lets say you need to call 999: from landline using a phone unpowered phone yes. ( See the first picture).   From a mobile phone no.

I need to call my doctor.  No wont work. They use a pax phone system and they need power.  Doctors surgery will close in a power cut for health and safety reasons.

I want to call my Mum and make sure she ok !!   This depends on the phone you’re both using.  Again unpowered landlines phones yes, anything else no.

I need to call work and tell them I’m not coming in.  Again most offices use the pax phone system and they wont work.

My Dad’s got a personal alarm encase he has a fall. That will still work right?  Nope they run on the mobile phone network.

The rule of thumb is:

Only the old fashioned phones and landlines will work in a power cut. If you’re worried about a vulnerable person make sure they have one of the fashioned phones plug in and you have one to call them on.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 8 months ago by  Mr Fishy.

Your electronics and appliances can be vulnerable to outages and knowing how to care for them during power losses will help keep you safe and protect them from damage.

1. Unplug Appliances

Televisions, computer equipment, advanced technology washers and dryers, game consoles, fans, lights, etc., should be unplugged, especially if they were in use when the power went out.

2. Use Surge Protectors

It’s strongly recommended that expensive electronics be unplugged during an outage to protect them from power surges when electricity is restored, but for when you can’t unplug, surge protectors will help prevent damage to electronics like computers and televisions.

3. Keep the Fridge & Freezer Closed

Make sure food stays as cold as possible, by keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed and placing blocks of ice inside.

4. Turn Out the Lights

Turn all light switches and lamps off except for one, so you will know when power returns. If the power is still out when you go to sleep, leave a bedroom light on to wake you so you can safety check your home.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 8 months ago by  Mr Fishy.

Money & shopping !!!

The electricity out and you think…. OK I’ll pop out and do a bit of shopping !!!

First of all the shops will close in a power cut including petrol stations.  Its a health and safety  thing.

The till’s are eletric and card readers too.  Debit cards wont work.

Back in the 70’s people still used cash and tills like this one were common.

The only place I’ve seen a mechanical cash register still working  is at the local  open market.  Car boot sale dont really use them or if they do they have a generator.

You can still buy food at road side food wagons with cash.

Taxi’s mostly still run on cash.

Buses are a funny one and depend on the area.  Here is my local bus company’s rules on cash payments.

“Change vouchers – we accept cash but we don’t offer change, instead we provide a change voucher. All change vouchers will be printed with an expiry date of three months from the date of issue. Please make sure that you redeem any vouchers that you have as soon as possible to avoid them expiring. Funds from unclaimed change vouchers will go to charity.”

Trains…. just give up there all eletric.

The only advice is go down the bank and take out cash. Make sure its mixed coins not notes. No one will want to give you change for a £20 note after buying rizla’s!!