If you’ve lived in Texas for a while, you already know that we can experience extreme weather from every angle—burning summers, ice storms, flooding, and even tornadoes. Unfortunately, each of these natural events can quickly spiral into a larger emergency, especially when the power goes out. The infamous Texas Winter Storm of 2021 taught us all just how vulnerable our power grid really is. So if you’re reading this, you’re likely the type of person who doesn’t want to be caught off guard again. That’s smart.
I’m here to help you prepare, not panic. When the grid goes down—whether from weather, cyberattack, aging infrastructure, or overload—you need to be able to survive, adapt, and protect your loved ones. No electricity doesn’t have to mean no hope. With the right skills, tools, and mindset, you can make it through even the toughest blackouts.
Let’s walk through five essential survival skills you’ll need when the lights go out, three clever DIY hacks for generating some power on your own, the top three must-have survival items to keep on hand, and finally, which cities in Texas are the absolute worst places to be when the grid fails.
5 Survival Skills to Know When Living Without Electricity
1. Off-Grid Cooking & Food Prep
When the power goes out, so does your electric stove, microwave, and fridge. Being able to cook food without power is critical. Invest in a propane camping stove, rocket stove, or build your own solar oven using a cardboard box and foil. Know how to use cast iron cookware over an open flame safely. And don’t forget the value of shelf-stable foods—beans, rice, canned meats, powdered milk.
Being able to preserve food without a fridge—by smoking, salting, dehydrating, or fermenting—is another underrated skill. It’s not just about eating, it’s about eating safely.
2. Water Purification and Storage
When electricity goes down, water pressure often drops or gets contaminated. Learn to collect rainwater and purify it. You should have water filters like LifeStraw or Sawyer Minis, but also know old-school methods like boiling, using bleach drops, or building a sand-charcoal filtration system.
You can DIY a water cache using 55-gallon food-grade barrels. Plan for at least one gallon of water per person, per day, for a minimum of two weeks.
3. Staying Warm (or Cool)
Texas weather isn’t just inconvenient—it can be deadly. In winter, without heat, hypothermia becomes a real risk. Learn to insulate a room using blankets, foam board, or mylar emergency blankets on windows. Set up a safe heat source like a Mr. Heater Buddy (rated for indoor propane use with proper ventilation).
In the summer, know how to cool down with old-fashioned tricks like cross-ventilation, wet cloth wraps, shade shelters, and battery-powered fans. Heat stroke can kill just as easily as frostbite.
4. Lighting & Situational Awareness
Once it’s dark, your world shrinks. Have a system for lighting: solar lanterns, candles, headlamps, and flashlights with rechargeable batteries. But also learn how to maintain night vision, avoid light discipline mistakes (which can attract attention in bad times), and move silently in low light.
Your eyes and ears are your best defenses when everything else is down. Learn to listen to your environment.
5. Community Bartering & Security Basics
Survival isn’t always about going it alone. When the grid is down for weeks, bartering may become necessary. Learn basic trade value (like what a bottle of bleach or a pound of rice is worth in hard times) and build trust with neighbors beforehand. At the same time, know how to secure your property discreetly and safely. Motion-activated solar lights, reinforced doors, and simple early-warning tripwires can go a long way.
You don’t need to become Rambo—you just need to be prepared, alert, and protective of your space and people.
3 DIY Electricity Hacks During a Blackout
1. Build a Solar USB Charger
Using a small solar panel (5-20W), a charge controller, and a USB output module, you can create your own solar phone charger. These parts are widely available online or from hardware stores. Great for keeping phones, radios, or USB lights running when the grid is down.
2. Bicycle Generator Setup
Convert a bicycle into a pedal-powered generator using an alternator or a DC motor. You’ll need a voltage regulator and a battery to store the charge. This DIY setup can power small devices or recharge batteries with a good workout.
3. DIY Mason Jar Oil Lamp
If you’re caught without flashlights or solar lanterns, you can make an oil lamp using a mason jar, olive or vegetable oil, and a cotton wick (or even a shoelace in a pinch). It won’t replace your entire lighting system, but it can provide a surprisingly steady light source.
Top 3 Most Important Survival Products to Have Without Electricity
1. Portable Power Bank (Solar Rechargeable)
A high-capacity solar power bank or battery station like a Jackery or Goal Zero unit allows you to keep your essential electronics (phone, radio, flashlight, fan) running. Make sure it’s solar rechargeable and test it regularly.
2. Water Filtration System
Whether it’s a gravity-fed Berkey filter, a LifeStraw, or Sawyer Mini, you must have a reliable way to turn contaminated water into drinkable water. Boiling is great—but what if you’re low on fuel?
3. Emergency Radio (Hand Crank + Solar + Battery)
Communication is critical in a crisis. A NOAA weather radio with AM/FM and shortwave capabilities keeps you informed. Bonus if it includes a flashlight and USB charger.
5 Worst Cities in Texas to Be in During a Power Outage
Some places in Texas are just tougher to survive in when the grid fails. Factors like population density, climate extremes, lack of infrastructure, or crime risk make these cities particularly hazardous:
1. Houston
Hot, humid, and sprawling, Houston becomes almost unlivable without AC. Crime increases during outages, and flood risk adds another danger.
2. Dallas
High population, extreme summer heat, and ice storms in the winter. Dallas has seen grid strain before and would struggle in long-term blackouts.
3. El Paso
While drier and safer than some cities, El Paso relies heavily on power for water pumps and cooling systems in a desert environment. Summer heat can be punishing.
4. Corpus Christi
Hurricane-prone and vulnerable to grid instability. Water contamination and evacuation problems make this a tough spot during power-down events.
5. San Antonio
Large and rapidly growing, San Antonio’s grid is already under pressure. With extreme heat and limited shade, it poses a serious survival challenge during summer outages.
Final Thoughts: Resilience Starts With Mindset
The truth is, we can’t always predict when or why the lights will go out. But what we can do is take control of how we respond. Preparing for a power outage isn’t just about gadgets or gear—it’s about mindset. Think long-term. Think “What can I do today to be better off tomorrow?”
Start small. Practice one survival skill a week. Add a few key items to your home every month. Talk to your neighbors. Run a mock blackout scenario with your family. It’s not paranoia—it’s responsibility.
The more self-sufficient you become, the more peace you’ll feel. And if the day comes when everything does go dark, you’ll be the one who knows how to light a fire, filter the water, cook the food, and stay calm in the storm.
Stay safe, stay prepared, and never underestimate the power of knowledge.
TheDailyChristian 