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Blackout continuity

This module is the glue that keeps the estate running when every public service stops for months: grid, fuel, networks, banks, rubbish collection, emergency services, schools and supply chains. It covers a dependency audit, staged autonomy targets, legal fuel storage, generators, workshop and machines, spares, manual fallbacks, deep stores, money, community mutual aid, children and records, and the drills that prove it all works.

Why it matters

Each system module makes one service independent, but a long blackout fails at the gaps between them: a fuel stock that went stale, a pump with no spare seal, a chainsaw injury with no ambulance, a child with no school. This module finds those gaps, closes them and tests them. It turns a collection of off-grid systems into a household that can keep living largely unaffected.

Audit your dependencies and set targets (Plan)

1. Run a dependency audit of every outside service continuity-1
2. Set autonomy targets: 72 hours, 2 weeks, 3 months, 1 year continuity-2
3. Pick your critical loads and decide what runs on what continuity-3

Fuel strategy (Design)

1. Choose fuels by job and by how long they keep continuity-4
2. Check your legal storage limit and choose approved containers continuity-5
3. Site the fuel store and handle fuel safely continuity-6
4. Stabilise, rotate and log every litre continuity-7

Generator, workshop and machines (Install)

1. Size the generator to your critical loads continuity-8
2. Place and run the generator safely continuity-9
3. Maintain the generator and stock its spares continuity-10
4. Equip the workshop with hand tools first continuity-11
5. Run power tools on batteries and charge them safely continuity-12
6. Cut and process firewood safely continuity-13
7. Fit a manual way to lift water continuity-14
8. Plan transport without fuel deliveries continuity-15

Spares, manual fallbacks and deep stores (Test)

1. Build a critical spares register for every system continuity-16
2. Write a manual fallback for every powered system continuity-17
3. Extend food and supply stocks beyond the pantry continuity-18

Replace public services and keep people going (Run)

1. Plan for money when banks and cards stop continuity-19
2. Organise neighbourhood mutual aid and a skills register continuity-20
3. Form a community fire and first response team continuity-21
4. Keep children learning and spirits up continuity-22
5. Protect documents and records continuity-23
6. Run monthly and annual readiness drills, including a weekend switch-off continuity-24
7. Plan the recovery: when services come back continuity-25

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