the hot goddess

Power to the People in Portugal

I am grateful to have been spared the worst of the huge power outage that hit Europe at the beginning of this week, when millions lost electricity in all of Portugal and Spain and parts of France for up to 12 hours. I lost electricity, water, and phone service/internet at around 11:30 Monday morning, but all were restored in my home by 11 p.m. that night. The country remained under a state of emergency the next day. A definitive cause of the unprecedented blackout has yet to be determined as of this writing.

Source: AP News


The larger grocery stores in my Silver Coast village have generators, and they stayed open during the apagão geral (widespread blackout). When I went to buy water, the shelves were empty except for small bottles. Everyone was so polite and patient and smiling as they took some. I was struck by how differently this would’ve likely played out in the U.S. I heard from American expats living in other areas of Portugal that are filled with English-speaking expats that the scenes in stores there were…um…not the same as what I experienced in my predominantly Portuguese village. What a shame.

Source: Reuters

I realize I was more fortunate than others whose lives were greatly impacted in larger cities and elsewhere here, and I remain thankful to be where I am.

Blackout on the Silver Coast

Preparation is Power

I’ve already written about being prepared for a health emergency when living alone in a foreign country. Here is a suggested checklist for a Home Emergency Survival Kit for expats, to be prepared in case of power blackouts, storms, earthquakes, or other emergencies in a foreign country:

1. Water & Food
• [ ] 1 gallon of water per person per day (7-day supply)
• [ ] Non-perishable food, powdered milk, and boxed beverages…yes, wine  (7-day supply)
• [ ] Manual can opener
• [ ] Water purification tablets or filter
• [ ] Baby formula and food (if needed)
• [ ] Pet food and supplies (if needed)

2. Light & Power
• [ ] Flashlights, extra batteries
• [ ] LED lanterns, headlamps
• [ ] Candles, matches, long/BBQ lighters
• [ ] Solar-power or hand-crank charger
• [ ] Power banks (fully charged)
• [ ] Backup generator with fuel, to be used only outdoors to avoid asphyxiation.

3. Communication
• [ ] Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
• [ ] Whistle (to signal for help)
• [ ] List of emergency contacts (written on paper)

4. First Aid & Health
• [ ] First aid kit (bandages, antiseptics, pain relievers, tweezers, etc.)
• [ ] Prescription medications (7-day supply)
• [ ] Personal hygiene items (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, baby wipes, feminine hygiene, etc.)
• [ ] Face masks and gloves
• [ ] Hand sanitizer

5. Tools & Supplies
• [ ] Multipurpose tool or Swiss Army knife
• [ ] Duct tape
• [ ] Plastic sheeting and tarp
• [ ] Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)
• [ ] Fire extinguisher
• [ ] Work gloves
• [ ] Zip ties, rope

6. Warmth & Shelter
• [ ] Blankets or sleeping bags
• [ ] Extra clothes (including waterproof outerwear and boots)
• [ ] Emergency thermal blankets
• [ ] Tent or temporary shelter

7. Important Documents (Stored in Waterproof Bag)
• [ ] IDs (passports, licenses)
• [ ] Residence visas/permits and supporting paperwork/documents
• [ ] Insurance policies (health, home, car)
• [ ] Medical records
• [ ] Cash (small bills and coins in local currency)

8. Miscellaneous
• [ ] Notepad and pens
• [ ] Printed local maps
• [ ] Spare keys (home and car)
• [ ] Properly stored gasoline if you have a gas-powered car/vehicle
• [ ] Contact information for your country’s embassy/consulate
• [ ] Entertainment (books, games, cards)

Additional random reminders during a blackout:

Remember to keep a printed language translation book/dictionary on hand so you can communicate without relying on your cell phone apps.

Turn off and unplug appliances and electronics to protect from surges as power is restored.

Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maximize insulation. Consume perishable food from the fridge first, then frozen food, and then non-perishables.

Pre-blackout bike practice

Thank you for reading! ❤️ I hope you won’t need to rely on a survival kit any time soon, but, for me, being prepared always makes me feel confident and empowered. It makes me feel good. So does the kindness of other people. I am grateful to my Portuguese fellow residents here, who continue to confirm this is the right place for me in any situation.

On a different note, this Sunday, May 4, is Mothers Day here in Portugal. Gifts and flowers are also making me feel good and grateful this week.

Source: Mensagens Lindas
From Boyfriend
Also from Boyfriend
For my neighbor, because giving makes me feel good.

May this weekend find you not only prepared in case of unexpected emergency, but just as prepared to receive, appreciate, and give unforeseen joy. Feliz Dia das Mães to all who celebrate it this Sunday. 🌸

All images are my own, except as noted.

The Hot Goddess

Instagram: retired_rewired_inspired

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35 comments

  3. Yes, glad to know you were fine Natalie. Yes, I’ve heard from some other friends that the outages caused some minor problems, but overall everyone took it in stride. You wrote: “I was struck by how differently this would’ve likely played out in the U.S.” I’m afraid that we’re going to find out soon. I read a story yesterday that the tariffs are supposed to start having some supply issue impacts very soon in grocery/department stores. I’m guessing that we have another run on something silly like toilet paper or something along those lines like we had during the pandemic. Crazy.

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    • Thank you, Brian. I was impressed with how the Portuguese folks I saw handled this massive event. We can look at COVID days and even Black Friday shopping to see how things would’ve gone in the U.S.
      I had no ill effects from the blackout, of course, but small restaurants and shops suffered, surgeries were canceled, people were trapped in elevators and transportation, flights were grounded, and I read of deaths in Spain due to asphyxiation from generators. I and other expats I know here were lucky.

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  9. Like your other subscribers, I immediately thought of you when I heard about the power outage. Your emergency preparedness list reminded me that mine, started during the wildfires near Los Angeles, remains unfinished.

    On another topic: I’m thinking of buying an e-town bike. Your Trek looks like one that might meet my requirements. I don’t like to ride my Orbea mountain bike to town as the pavement puts unnecessary wear on my expensive tires AND theft is always a consideration when among opportunists who might “borrow” her and not appreciate her unique beauty.

    Which model is your bike; do you recommend it?

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    • Hi Judy! Thank you for your thoughts. I still am missing a number of things on this list too, and some (generator, tent) I likely won’t get.

      As far as the bike, it’s a Trek Powerfly FS 4 mountain bike. I’ve only had one longer ride on it, on unpaved trails, and it’s taking some getting used to. Much heavier, bigger, and harder to turn than what I was used to back in the day. If you’re used to mountain bikes then you’d probably like this one.

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  10. As others have stated, you came to my mind first when I heard of this blackout. I’m glad to know you weathered it well. I agree, things would’ve been VERY different if that happened in the US – there are so many greedy people here, they would run over their grandma to get what they wanted (not even needed)! I’m going to start building my preparation box…I have a bad feeling the US is gonna get hit with something (probably self inflicted) 🫤

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  17. This power outage was unprecedented and quite scary, especially after most communications went offline. I was in Lisbon when it happened. Happy to know that you had a beautiful silver cost to enjoy. Beautiful pics, thanks for sharing!

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