Home Resilience
Planning for Wildfire Shutoffs and Smoke Season
Wildfire-related shutoffs create a different backup problem: repeated outages, smoke, communication needs, and air filtration.
Quick takeaways
- Air filtration can be an essential load.
- Quiet backup matters in dense neighborhoods.
- Communications and alerts should be prioritized.
Add air quality loads
During smoke events, a HEPA purifier or HVAC fan may be more important than many comfort devices. Include air filtration in the backup list if smoke is a regular risk.
Repeated outages favor automation
If shutoffs happen several times per year, automatic transfer and a clear critical-load panel may be worth more than a setup that requires cords and manual switching every time.
Keep alerts powered
Phones, radios, internet equipment, and local alert systems should stay powered long enough to receive evacuation or restoration updates.