When I tell people I build my own power stations, I sometimes get a look, the one that says, "So you're one of those people." I get it. For a lot of folks, backup power sounds like something for doomsday preppers with bunkers and canned beans and let's not forget toilet paper stacked to the ceiling.
But here's how I see it: you have a spare tire in your car. You have insurance on your home. You probably keep a flashlight in a drawer somewhere. None of that makes you paranoid. It makes you sensible. Backup power is the same idea.
Most of us flip a switch and expect the lights to come on, every time. And most of the time, they do. But there are more ways to lose power than most people realize:
Severe storms: hurricanes, thunderstorms, monsoons, and tornadoes that knock down lines and poles.
Winter weather: ice and snow that weigh down power lines until they snap.
Extreme heat: heat waves that push everyone's air conditioning at once and overload the grid.
Wildfires: utilities sometimes shut off power on purpose to keep lines from sparking new fires.
Aging equipment: transformers and substations that simply wear out and fail.
Accidents: a car hitting a utility pole, or a construction crew digging into an underground line and this happens more often than not.
Trees and animals: falling branches, and yes, squirrels are a surprisingly common cause of outages.
Rolling blackouts: planned outages when demand is higher than the supply especially now with data centers on the rise.
Solar storms: rare, but strong ones can damage parts of the grid.
Cyberattacks: used to be rare, but now it's a growing concern not only for electricity but for the water grid too.
Truth is just about anything can cause a blackout and they could last any amount of time. The 2003 Northeast Blackout lasted only 4 days and affected 55 million people. Superstorm Sandy (2012) lasted 14 days and affected 8.5 million people. You're thinking it couldn't happen again, not with all this new technology, right? How about Winter Storm Uri (2021) which affected 10+ million people and lasted 5 days. Still not relevant enough? October 13, 2026 13 States Under Emergency Order to Prevent Blackouts - Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia—as well as the District of Columbia which serve more than 67 million people.
Usually it's a few hours of inconvenience. Sometimes it's days. And as I learned after Hurricane Andrew, sometimes it's weeks.
For a lot of people, the realization comes during the outage itself. You're standing in a dark kitchen doing the math on how long the food in the fridge will last. Your phone is at 12 percent. The house is getting hot, or cold, and there's nothing you can do about it.
That helpless feeling is exactly what backup power fixes. It doesn't have to run your whole house. It just has to keep the things that matter most running.
So, I say start with what matters most. If you're new to this, don't start by thinking about panels and batteries. Start by asking yourself one question: if the power went out for three days, what would I actually need to power, and be realistic about your answers.
For most people, the list looks something like this:
Keeping phones charged so you can stay in touch and get news
A fan, especially if you live somewhere hot like I do
Lights, so you're not stumbling around with candles
Medical devices, like a CPAP machine or anything else your health depends on
Keeping a small fridge or cooler cold in our case we run an RO water system to filter our water- that's a must have for us
Internet, if you work from home or need to stay connected
Once you know your must-haves, the right setup gets a lot clearer. You might only need a small portable unit. Or you might want something bigger that can recharge from solar panels so you're never waiting on the grid to come back.
People think I'm selling fear, I'm not. I'm encouraging freedom and those are 2 totally different things.
Having backup power doesn't mean I sit around worrying about the next disaster. It's the opposite. Because I'm prepared, I don't have to worry. For me it's simple, when the lights go out, I'm not panicking. I'm plugging in.
And the best part? It's not just for emergencies. The same setup that keeps my essentials running during an outage also comes camping, using power tools out in the yard, and works for anyone living the RV or van life.
Let's Talk
So here's my question for you: what would you want to keep running if the power went out tomorrow? Drop it in the comments. I'd love to hear what's on your list. And if you're curious about where to start, ask away. No question is too basic. We all started somewhere.
— Annie, Big Girl Solar
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