Emergency Preparedness Guide For Your Unique Off-Grid Life

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No matter where you live unexpected life events will affect you. Natural disasters, medical emergencies, power outages, unexpected job loss, and inclement weather affect us all!  When it comes to emergency preparedness, off-grid living comes with its own set of challenges. In the event of a power outage, most people settle in and wait for help to arrive. When you live off-grid, you are completely on your own! Emergency preparedness off-grid ensures that when an emergency situation occurs and it will, you are ready to weather the storm!

What Does it Mean to Live Off-Grid?

Living off-grid varies from family to family. Simply put, living off-grid means that you are not connected to public utilities. Most often, off-grid living refers specifically to living separate from the electrical grid. However, off-grid living can include being separated from other utilities as well. 

One of the nice things about supplying your own electricity, is often you have no idea when the electrical grid is down because it doesn’t affect you. However, when it does go down, it’s up to you to fix it!

Most people who live off-grid are acutely more aware of their electricity and water usage. Unlike grid tied utilities, most off-grid utility systems are not unlimited. While some people live more primitively using less electricity, either by choice or by the limitations of their solar power system. Most people still live modern lifestyles but simply supply their own power through different means.

​Electricity Off-Grid

Many off-grid homes utilize solar power as their primary source of electrical power. DIY companies like Signature Solar are making it more feasible for people to purchase and install solar systems on their own. One of the benefits of purchasing a complete system through a reputable source is having access to tech support. It can be very overwhelming as you make the adjustment from grid-tied utilities to off-grid utilities. Many people are not well-versed in how electrical power works and don’t know where to start when systems fail. Having the support of expert technicians when you encounter problems makes all the difference! 

Determining Your Power Needs

When building a solar system most people try to determine how much power they require for everyday use. However, be sure to take into consideration how much power you need to store for days when solar power is limited. During most of the year, we enjoy unlimited power! The sun shines brightly and our batteries are always fully charged by mid-morning. However, during the winter when the sun sits a bit lower in the sky and the days are shorter, solar power can be more limited. Take into consideration the essential appliances you need such as freezers, refrigerators, or any medical equipment your family may require. Multiply your power usage to ensure you have excess energy in your battery banks to provide adequate power when the sun is not shining as brightly. 

Alternate Source of Power

Most importantly consider an alternate power source when your primary plan fails. During the winter especially, peak periods when the solar panels are charging will be shorter. You may go days without sufficient sunlight to fully charge your system.  Not only do you want to have adequate power for your essential appliances, but you also want to have adequate power for your non-essential power needs too. In the case of an unexpected power outage or days when solar power is limited, our emergency power source is a gas-powered generator. 

Good Sources of Clean Water

One of the most popular off-grid sources of water is to have a private well. Even in suburban neighborhoods, wells are a common source of water for those living on the grid. However, most wells are directly connected to electricity. When the power grids fail, not only are you without electricity you are also without water. Make sure you can power your well with an alternate energy source and know how to convert it when necessary. 

As we were preparing for homestead life, we considered a windmill to power a well to provide an alternate energy source. While that option is still a possibility, we switched gears and opted to prepare our farm for rainwater harvesting. In recent years, as good water filtration became more affordable for off-grid homes, rainwater harvesting became more popular in North America. While rainwater harvesting is a good option for many people, be sure to take into consideration the amount of annual rainfall in your local community to ensure it’s a viable option. Furthermore, thoroughly research the laws regarding rainwater harvesting in your state. Believe it or not, rainwater harvesting is not legal in all areas. 

In our area, we are fortunate that the local municipalities sell water in bulk. We purchase the water locally, haul the water in, and store it in cistern tanks on our farm. While it’s currently our primary source of water, it is the backup plan for our rainwater harvesting system. The best thing about this option is that it gives me peace of mind that should we experience a drought, clean, potable water is available locally.

Emergency Food Supply

Having a well-stocked pantry ensures you have food when inclement weather or illness might prevent you from reaching the grocery store. Keeping a long term food supply gives peace of mind when the unexpected occurs. Building a well-stocked pantry can take time and is very expensive in today’s economy. Bulk food warehouses are one way that families build their long-term food storage. Be cautious when you shop in bulk, compare prices to be sure you really are getting a bargain. While not all families who live off-grid raise and grow their own food, many purchase food in bulk from local farmers and preserve the food for a healthier alternative to store-bought staples. 

Dealing with Medical Emergencies

Many who live off-grid live more remotely. While you may have access to emergency services, it may take them much longer to respond. Keeping a comprehensive first aid kit on hand and well-stocked is imperative. Most importantly know how to use the equipment you purchase. While basic first aid classes are available consider more comprehensive medical training so that you are prepared for the unexpected. 

Build a Community

Living off-grid has its challenges! One of the best things you can do is to create a community of like-minded friends and neighbors. No one understands the unique challenges of living off-grid like other off-grid families. While it’s amazing to have internet friends who share your passion for off-grid living, creating a local community is the basis of your support system when the unexpected happens. Off-grid homestead life can be lonely, meeting regularly to learn new skills or just have fun is a great way to make lifelong friends and build the camaraderie of the group. 

#1 Rule for Living Off-Grid

The most important rule when it comes to living off-grid is ALWAYS have a backup plan! In the event of an emergency, most homeowners living off-grid will not have immediate access to replacement parts. Philip and I have been living off-grid for one year. Our solar system is new, purchased shortly before we moved permanently to our off-grid homestead. Unexpectedly one of our charge controllers failed. While it is a good idea to always have basic replacement parts on hand for emergency supplies.  A charge controller is an expensive piece of equipment. While we discussed keeping an extra on hand for an unexpected event, it’s not the best use of our resources nor is it wise to purchase such a vital piece of equipment and just set it aside.  All the while the warranty is ticking away and may be completely void by the time you need it. 

Dealing with Equipment Failure

During our recent electrical outage, our charge controller was still within its warranty period. While the good news is we did not have to pay to replace the equipment itself, keeping our off-grid electricity flowing through fossil fuels is much more expensive than soaking up the sun through solar power. We were without our primary power source for 17 days. The entire ordeal included working with the manufacturer to diagnose the system failure, the first attempts at repairing the system, and then waiting for the warrantied equipment to be shipped to us. This long delay occurred under normal circumstances. In the event of a disaster, not only may delivery times be disrupted, the seller’s handling time may be delayed as well.

In most settings, we prefer to have a backup plan for the backup plan! Redundancy ensures we never go without in difficult situations. It might include an alternate plan or it may mean we have estimated the cost of funding an alternate energy source for the long run. Then we budget that much money for emergency services, tucking it away for a rainy day!

A can-do attitude is your most powerful tool for off-grid living. By developing problem-solving skills, creating a backup plan, maintaining well-stocked household resources to include commonly used replacement parts, and building a strong local community, you can not only survive unexpected challenges but also thrive in your off-grid lifestyle. Start taking action today to ensure your off-grid preparedness for whatever the future may hold.