When I was in the military, I used P.A.C.E. more times than I can count. We prepared, checked, and rechecked things to the extreme. We did this because we had to — failure wasn’t an option.
Fast forward a few years. I’m out of the service, living civilian life, and a nasty storm rolls through. Most of the city lost power for days. Some parts stayed dark for weeks. Suddenly, all that military planning muscle memory kicked in. I had to reach into my trusty bag of tricks. Yeah, that’s right — I was doing some Felix the Cat shit.
That’s the thing about P.A.C.E. — Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency — it’s not just for the battlefield. It works anywhere you need layered backup plans… like when the lights go out and stay out.
The idea is simple:
- Primary – The way you expect it to work.
- Alternate – The way you hope you won’t need, but will use if the first fails.
- Contingency – The way you grit your teeth and say, “Well, this sucks, but it’ll do.”
- Emergency – Last-ditch survival mode when the universe has gone full chaos.
Let’s run it through a blackout scenario — focusing on keeping in touch and keeping the lights (or at least the coffee) on.
Primary – Your Everyday Comfort Zone
Communications: Cell phone + home Wi-Fi. Group texts. Video calls. Social media doomscrolling while you wait for the lights to flicker back on.
Power Strategy: Lights work. Outlets work. Your devices are charged without you even thinking about it.
Enjoy it. It’s your baseline. But don’t assume it’ll last forever.
Alternate – When the Obvious Fails
Communications: The Wi-Fi’s dead, and cell towers are overloaded. You switch to a fully charged power bank, use text instead of calls (less bandwidth), and if you’ve got one, a GMRS or FRS radio for local chatter.
Power Strategy:
- Portable Power Stations – Bigger than a phone power bank, these can run small appliances, recharge laptops, and keep lights on.
- Vehicle Charging – A car inverter can power essentials if you have gas in the tank.
- Rechargeable Flashlights & Lanterns – No hunting for batteries in the dark. Just remember: unplug them once they’re fully charged to keep the battery healthy and extend its life. If the device allows, consider buying a spare rechargeable battery so you’re never stuck waiting for one to charge.
- Pro Tip: If you’ve got a local battery repair shop, get to know them. I’ve used mine for years to rebuild batteries for gear most people would just toss. Odds are, there’s one in your area too — and they can save you money and keep your kit ready for the next outage.
Question for You: When was the last time you actually checked your power banks or battery supplies? If you had to use them right now, would they be ready — or dead as door knobs?
Contingency – The “We’re Really Doing This” Stage
Communications: Phones are dead. Radios are on low battery. This is where pre-arranged meeting times, printed maps, and low-power radios (kept in reserve) come in. Maybe you’ve even stashed a cheap prepaid phone with a different carrier for coverage overlap.
Power Strategy:
- Solar Chargers & Panels – Even small foldable panels can keep radios, lights, and phones alive indefinitely — as long as you have sunlight.
- Crank-Powered Gear – Flashlights, radios, and USB chargers that work with a hand crank. No sunshine? No problem.
- Rechargeable Lanterns – Longer runtime and more coverage than a flashlight, and most can be topped off from a power bank or solar panel.
This is when people who didn’t plan start borrowing from people who did. Don’t be the borrower.
Question for You: If you have an Emergency Preparedness Plan, when was the last time you actually pulled it out and checked things? Plans don’t work if they live in a drawer collecting dust.
Emergency – Last-Ditch Survival
Communications: Nothing electronic works. You send a neighbor to check on your sister across town. You use whistles or flashlight signals after dark.
Power Strategy: It’s no longer about powering gadgets — it’s about heat, light, and cooking enough to keep going. Fire pit, layered clothing, shared shelter.
For lights inside the house, I’ve used old-school oil lamps. I also keep several candles as backup. Fun fact — in the winter, you can use blankets over windows and doorways to trap heat. You’d be amazed at how much warmth a candle can put off in an enclosed space. You won’t be sweating, but it can prevent you from freezing to death. And remember, even if you have a gas furnace or stove, the ignitors still run on electricity — so I keep long matches on hand to light them manually when the power’s out.
For hot meals, propane stoves and other fuel-based camp stoves are worth their weight in gold. They’re compact, easy to store, and can run even when the grid is completely down. Just store the fuel safely, and rotate your supply so it’s fresh when you need it.
This is where the difference between “prepared” and “in trouble” gets real.
Power Strategies – Keeping the Juice Flowing
The world we know runs on electricity. Our homes, our jobs, our grocery stores, the way we communicate — hell, I can hardly think of anything that doesn’t need power these days. Take it away, and things get interesting real fast.
We all know about portable power packs. You probably even own a few. I do too. The problem? Half the time, they’re as dead as the power grid when you need them. I’ve got a couple of those damn things stuffed in go bags, and when I actually checked them… dead as doorknobs. Might as well have been carrying bricks.
So, let’s talk about rechargeable power sources — the stuff that can keep you going in a blackout without turning you into the neighborhood caveman.
- Primary: Keep devices charged, rotate your power banks, and use a small UPS for short-term internet access.
- Alternate: Portable power stations, vehicle charging, rechargeable flashlights, and lanterns.
- Contingency: Solar chargers, crank-powered gear, rechargeable lanterns.
- Emergency: Shared resources and low-power living.
DC Power – The Unsung Hero of Blackouts
Your car’s not just a way to get around — it’s a rolling DC power source. And DC gear skips the waste of converting to AC, meaning more runtime for less juice.
DC Lifesavers:
- 12V Fridge/Freezers – Sips power, keeps food safe for days.
- DC Coffee Pots – The apocalypse should still come with caffeine.
- 12V Fans – Crucial in hot climates.
- LED Work Lights – Long runtime and efficient.
Your Vehicle: More Than a Ride
With a few smart tweaks, your vehicle can be a blackout powerhouse.
Safe, Useful Mods:
- Extra 12V outlets.
- Heavy-duty battery or dual-battery setup.
- Marine Battery + Inverter Combo – A dedicated deep-cycle battery connected to a properly sized inverter for AC gear. Marine batteries handle deep discharges, so you can use their stored energy without killing them. Recharge via your car’s alternator or solar panels.
- Roof rack storage box for emergency gear.
Why it matters: It doesn’t hurt the vehicle, supports DC and AC power, and doubles as a camping setup.
Final Word:
P.A.C.E. isn’t just military jargon — it’s the difference between sitting in the dark complaining and flipping on your backup light with a grin because you’ve got the next three steps already covered. The lights will go out again. The question is, will you be ready?
Memoirs of Madness 