Mackay Power Outage Guide with Preparations & Strategies

Understanding Power Outages in Mackay 

On September 28, 2016, the power went out across the whole state of South Australia. Tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, damaging winds, hail, and 80,000 lightning hits were all part of the bad weather. Damage to Australia's power grid was terrible because of the storm. More than 223 communication towers were damaged.

It may be the first time severe weather has caused a state-wide power outage in Australia, but hundreds of thousands of people have been without power because of extreme weather.

• In 2009, more than 500,000 homes in Victoria lost power due to heatwaves.
• In 2011, more than 200,000 homes in Victoria lost power due to storms.
• In 2013, nearly 250,000 Queensland homes lost power due to storms.
• In 2015, 200,000 businesses and homes in New South Wales faced week-long power outages.
• 100,000 properties lostpower due to Hurricane Debbie in 2017.

Mackay residents sometimes lose power for several reasons, such as bad weather, repair problems, or events that were not planned for.

Storms like hurricanes, high winds, and tornadoes are the main reasons why power goes out in the Mackay area. (On August 4, 2007, strong winds in northern Mackay brought down power lines, which closed roads.)

Power blackouts can also be caused by mechanical issues or, very rarely, by mistakes made by people. (Two events near Mackay on March 25, 2012, cut power to about 2,500 residents.)

Recent power outages in Mackay, Australia, have been worst in the Pioneer Valley, parts of the Northern Beaches, and the City of Mackay. The table below shows the most recent information about the power failure in Mackay, including what happened, how it was fixed, and what happened in the end.

How Do You Prepare for A Mackay Power Outage?

Power blackouts are one of the things that will always happen in life. The power could go out at any time. During terrible winter storms, power can go out for a few minutes, an hour or two, or even more than a day.

You can't know when the power will go out, but it's good to be ready and know what to do if it does. For instance, you can prepare some emergency goods so things go smoothly when the power goes out. The information below tells you how to get ready ahead of time to avoid a Mackay power outage.

Step 1: Notice Power Outage Information  

People in Mackay should pay attention and check the Ergon Energy website to find out about outages in their area.

In the Mackay area, power outages are usually caused by bad weather like hurricanes, thunderstorms, and high winds, but people can also cause them. Power outages that people cause are usually predicted ahead of time and shown on the website.

Mackay is the most likely place in Queensland to be affected by natural disasters. People who live in the area are affected by tropical storms, river flooding, severe weather events, coastal flooding, heat waves, and bushfires.

Storms like hurricanes, high winds, and tornadoes are the main reasons why power goes out in the Mackay area. So, another good way to prepare for a power outage is to check the weather report.

Step 2: Pack An Emergency Kit

During a power outage, no one wants to run around the dark house looking for needed things. If the power goes out, assemble a simple first aid kit and tool kit beforehand.

Have a lot of extra batteries of different sizes ready for your flashlights, radios, clocks, camping lights, and any other essential tools or electronics that run on batteries when you put your kit together. Keep your batteries somewhere dry and at room temperature so the contacts don't touch.

Mark your emergency kit and put it somewhere that is easy to find. Please make sure everyone in the family knows where it is. Lastly, check back every six months to replace things that have gone bad and add new ones as your family's needs change. 

An emergency kit will help your family get what they need when the power goes out, or there is another disaster. Ensure that your emergency kit is easy for everyone in your home to get to. Check and change things often to make sure they are still fresh and up to date.

It's always good to have a plan B. Even if you are well-prepared and have done everything you can, you might not be able to stay in your house during an extended power outage. This is very important if your kids have the flu in the winter.  

Step 3: Prepare for Lighting & Communication

Keep a lights-out kit that is well-stocked and easy to get to. Ensure you have extra flashlights and other light sources on hand, especially in more than one room. Just make sure you have lots of extra batteries. It's also a good idea to save candles, oil lamps, or propane lights when needed. Ensure you have suitable matches or butane sticks on hand if you have a stove.

Make sure you bring a radio that runs on batteries so you can listen to local stations for the latest news. You want to stay linked to the outside world as much as possible because being without power for a long time can make you feel very alone.

Use a radio that runs on batteries to stay up to date. However, I think it only works if you have a radio. At least once a year, you should check your radio and make sure you have extra batteries.

Step 4: Keep A Backup Generator

As a backup power source, a home generator can make things run smoothly when the power goes out. During a power loss, an appropriately sized and well-kept generator can return the power in minutes if started by hand and in seconds if an automatic starter is used.

Never run a gas generator in a house, barn, or other enclosed building to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. You don't have to worry about these issues with a solar generator.  

Buy backup power sources like the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus or 1000 Pro to ensure you always have power when the power goes out. These small solar generators get power from the sun and produce clean, endless electricity. They give essential tools and appliances a safe backup power source.

The Jackery Solar Generator line has an extensive lithium battery, several AC outlets, and USB ports, making it a valuable and adaptable power source in various scenarios.

A portable solar generator is essential to a disaster plan because it ensures that necessary electronics like medical devices, communication devices, and lighting systems always have power, even if it goes out for a long time.

Step 5: Reserve Enough Food

During a power outage, you might be unable to use kitchen tools, so you should ensure you have enough water and food that doesn't go bad ahead of time. This could include canned, vacuum-packed, or dry food that doesn't need to be heated or cooked.

Store shelves may be cleared as soon as a weather report comes out. Don't fight the crowds; instead, fill your pantry with foods that don't need to be cooked and can be kept for a long time. Also, keep your scissors and can opener that you have to use by hand.

Please pay attention to the expiration dates and throw away food that has passed on time. Otherwise, the extra food will likely be piled up in the cupboard and forgotten.

• High-Calorie Food: peanut butter (or any nut butter), chocolate
• Protein Food: beef jerky, chicken jerky and other types of jerky
• Canned Food: canned meat such as tuna, canned fruits or vegetables
• Dry Food: crackers, nuts, cereals and cereal bars
• Instant Food: Instant coffee, tea and powdered beverage mixes

Step 6: Keep Water Source

Because of the power outages, the city's water sources will most likely not work. At least three days' worth of water must be saved before the power goes out. First, everyone needs one gallon of water every day to stay alive. Also, keep extra water on hand for cleaning, cooking, toiletries, and your dogs.

You should know how to store safe water to drink or cook with. Of course, the easiest and fastest way is to buy bottled water from the store (bottled water stays fresh for a long time).

Tap water can fill clean soda or milk jugs and save money. However, make sure the jar is clean first. First, wash them in warm water with soap, and then use a solution of one teaspoon of bleach mixed with one gallon of water to kill any germs.

The fluid should stay in the bottle for two minutes before being poured. Before putting tap water in the jar, rinse it with clean water. Finally, put the lid back on the jar and keep it somewhere cool and dry.

Jackery Solar Generators for Power Outages in Mackay

Generators that run on diesel, gasoline, or propane and are fired by oil can't be used inside without risk. Solar generators, however, don't give off harmful emissions and can be used whenever needed to power small items for hours or even days.

The Jackery Solar Generator can be used as a backup power source if the power goes out, making life much easier when you don't have control.        

When you use Jackery Solar Panels or another power source, you can charge the lithium-ion battery packs inside Jackery Solar Generators again. The built-in solar charging features can charge the battery using solar energy. This makes the generator self-sufficient and can be used for outdoor adventures or as a backup power source in a disaster. 

Some output ports on Jackery Portable Power Stations are AC outlets, DC plugs, and USB ports. This lets you charge tools and run home appliances. The Solar Generator 2000 Plus and 1000 Pro are tiny and light, which makes them great for when the power goes out.

Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro

Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro combines SolarSaga 80W solar PV panels with the Explorer 1000 Pro power station. It is a remarkably quiet generator, with noise levels as low as 46 dB. It has a lifespan of over ten years and can be fully recharged in just 1.8 hours. This device's dual 100W PD design provides a consistent and reliable power supply, ensuring that all necessary appliances remain operational during a power loss. 

The Explorer 1000 Pro power station is a rechargeable device with a capacity of 1002Wh. This allows it to power various appliances, including a television, CPAP machine, E-bike, refrigerator, and other devices, covering around 93% of commonly used equipment.

In addition, it is equipped with two 100W PD connectors and two USB-C ports, ensuring reliable and fast charging for various devices such as smartphones, cameras, and more. The MPPT solar charge technology guarantees an efficiency of 99%. Furthermore, this system supports recharging techniques through walls, vehicles, and solar recharge.    

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus

The Solar Generator 2000 Plus by Jackery significantly enhances the available choices for portable electricity with its exceptional performance. With its substantial capacity and formidable power output, this device can provide electricity for basic home needs.  

Adding battery cells to the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus enhances its capacity from 2 kWh to 12 kWh, leading to a significant transformation in providing backup power for households.

The Explorer 2000 Plus has a maximum power output of 3000W, 30% greater than other 2 kWh models with similar specifications. The bulk of critical household appliances are powered gadgets. Although the Solar Generator 2000 Plus is commonly used, it can achieve a complete charge within 6 hours by utilising six SolarSaga 100W solar panels. The power source achieves self-sufficiency by harnessing solar energy rather than relying on the power grid for charging.

The supplementary battery pack can be recharged using solar panels, offering increased versatility while enhancing charging efficacy and reducing time consumption. Jackery Solar Panels have an impressive solar conversion efficiency of up to 25%, generating more energy during its lifespan.

What Size Solar Generator Do I Need?

To choose an appropriately sized solar generator, it is essential to consider your energy requirements, the effectiveness of your solar panels, the capacity of your battery storage, and the specific equipment requirements. Selecting the appropriate solar generator size requires balancing energy requirements, installation effectiveness, portability, and expenses.  

Users can choose a Jackery Solar Generator for a portable solar system, which comes in sizes ranging from 12 kWh to 300Wh, depending on their energy needs. The formula for approximating the operational hours of appliances powered by the Jackery Solar Generator is as follows:

Working Hours (H) = [Jackery Solar Generator Capacity (Wh)*0.85] / Appliance's Wattage (W)

The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro can run a 100-watt ceiling fan for 8.2 hours (1002Wh x 0.85/100). This computation assists in determining the hours during which appliances can function.

What to Do During & After A Mackay Power Outage?

A power outage has a significant impact on residents' lives and work. In addition to making some preparations to deal with the power outage, you also need to take some measures during the power outage in Mackay and after the power is restored to ensure the safety of life and the restoration of everyday life.

What To Do During Mackay Power Outage

Power outages are always a pain, and they can even be risky. But if you know what to do and are ready, you can keep yourself, your family, and your things safe during a power outage.

People always need clarification when the power goes out, though. This will help you determine what to do if the power goes out.

1. The first thing you should do when the power goes out is ensure everyone in your home is safe. Find the nearest emergency light source carefully if you are in the dark, and ensure everyone in your family is safe.

2. Check if the power outage is just in your house. If people in the area still use electricity, ensure your circuit switch panel or fuse box is still working. If you still need to learn what's wrong, check to see if any of the lines that lead to the house are broken or have fallen off.

Keeping at least 10 metres away and calling the power supply department or repair company will help if the problem is with the wiring. If the power goes out in a particular place, let the power supply department know so that repairs can be made.

3. Turn off all of the electronics and electricity in the house. When the power returns, there may be a short current surge through your home wiring. This can damage electronics and appliances forever.

4. Turn off all the lights except one inside and one outside. This way, you and the repair crew will know when the power returns.

5. Keeping the doors to the fridge and freezer closed keeps the food inside safe. If you close the fridge door as much as possible, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) says it can keep food cold for about 4 hours if the power goes out. As long as the door is closed, the FSA says a full freezer will freeze food for about 48 hours. If the freezer is only half full, it will freeze food for about 24 hours. If you can, put ice in your fridge to keep food at a safe temperature while the power is out for a long time.

6. If you want to cook, use electric tools instead of fuel stoves. Devices that burn fuel but aren't hooked to a chimney or air shouldn't be used inside. Many machines emit carbon monoxide, which is very dangerous.

Grills (charcoal or gas), camp stoves, or home generators should never be used inside. They give off carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide poses a significant threat to your well-being and survival due to its invisible and odourless nature. Most of the time, solar systems that store electricity can power or charge electronics.

What To Do After Mackay Power Outage

Not only are steps taken during a power outage important, but they are also crucial after the power comes back on. If the power goes out again, it only takes a few steps to get everything back to normal and prepare for the next one.

1. Anything you unplugged before or during the power outage is now safe to plug back in one at a time. On some things, you might need to change the clocks and settings.

2. Shutting down and storing portable generatorstakes more than one step. To do these things, you should follow the manufacturer's directions. To do this with a gas or diesel generator, you must either burn off the leftover fuel regularly or drain it into a suitable container.

The generator and solar charger are just taken apart and carefully put away. It's essential to charge the power bank so that you can use it again.

3. If you still need to, get rid of any food that will go bad soon in your fridge and freezer. Refrain from tasting food that might be good to see if it's still safe to store.

4. If you use any food, drink, batteries, or first aid items in your emergency kit, bring new ones with you the next time you need them.

Final Thoughts

Power outages will have a significant effect on people's lives and even on the way they get along with each other. Power blackouts can cost money, damage equipment, put people in danger, and even cause social unrest.

Dealing with a power outage means getting ready and making changes during and after the power returns. We hope this guide helps you when there are power outages in Mackay. Of course, you can trust the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus and 1000 Pro when the power goes out.