Five ways to get through a power cut

A storm hits, the power goes out and your home is in the dark: what do you do? Photo / File

A storm hits, the power goes out and your home is in the dark: what do you do?

1. Stay calm: The first thing to do is keep calm and check what may have caused the black-out.

If it's been a big storm, there's a good chance you're in the same boat as your neighbour, so head across the driveway and check to see if the outage has affected your street.

If so, this likely means the power will probably be out for some time, so grab your torch and check you've got all you need - first aid supplies and canned goods - to get you through.

It's also important to unplug any appliances that might be hit by an overload when the power comes back on.

Next, give your power company a call or check their website or social media accounts.

Alert the authorities if you need to.

2. Be safe: Don't touch or use any electrical appliances while barefoot in damp or wet conditions - and if you go out, be aware that streetlights and traffic lights may not be working.

Don't go near any damaged power lines and electrical equipment - stay at least 8m away.

If you need to use candles, do so safely.

Torches, especially rechargeable ones, are always a better idea.

3. Make it last: Keep the fridge closed so food will last longer while the power is off.

A freezer will usually keep food frozen for up to 24 hours without power.

If you've got an emergency generator, place it in a dry spot to avoid poisoning from carbon monoxide and only plug the most important appliances into it.

4. Wait it out: Don't stress, worry or count the minutes - black-outs can sometimes last days.

Think about how you might need to prepare meals or keep yourself and your family warm in the meantime.

5. Have some old-fashioned fun: Being plunged into darkness doesn't have to be scary.

Take the opportunity to read stories or books to your kids, or play games with them.

Dig out those old boardgames or see who in the family is best at charades. It can be a welcome change from Netflix, video games or social media.