What do I do if we lose power?

Power outages at campgrounds happen. A summer thunderstorm rolls through, a transformer blows down the road, or the park's electrical system gets overwhelmed on a hot weekend — and suddenly your shore power is gone. It's rarely dangerous if you know what to do. Here's how to handle it safely and comfortably until the lights come back on.

We've seen outages here at Buckeye Beach Park over the years — usually weather-related, almost always resolved within a few hours. The campers who handle it best are the ones who were a little prepared before it happened. This post covers both: what to do in the moment, and what to have on hand so you're never caught completely off guard.

⚡ Step 1 — Figure Out What's Actually Going On

The first thing to do when power cuts out is stay calm and figure out the scope of the problem. Is it just your site, your section, or the whole campground? That tells you what to do next.

Check Your Own RV First

Before assuming it's the campground, check inside your rig. Look at your circuit breaker panel — a tripped breaker is one of the most common causes of a sudden power loss and takes about 10 seconds to fix. Also check that your power cord is fully seated in the pedestal and that your surge protector indicator lights aren't showing an error.

□ If your surge protector tripped due to a power issue at the pedestal, do not plug back in until the issue is resolved. That's the surge protector doing exactly its job.

Check the Pedestal & Talk to Your Neighbors

Step outside and look at the power pedestal. Check whether the breaker on the pedestal itself has tripped — sometimes it just needs to be reset. Then take a quick look around. Are your neighbors' lights out too? A quick conversation confirms whether it's a single-site issue or something bigger affecting the whole park.

□ If it's park-wide, notify the office or camp host right away if they don't already know. The faster we know, the faster we can get it resolved.

Unplug or Turn Off Major Appliances

Once you know power is out, go inside and switch off or unplug major appliances — air conditioner, microwave, TV, electric water heater. When power comes back on, a surge of everything powering up at once can trip breakers again or damage sensitive electronics. Let power stabilize for a minute or two after it returns before switching things back on one at a time.

□ Step 2 — Immediate Safety Priorities

⚠️ Never use open flames inside your RV for lighting during an outage. Candles inside an RV are a fire hazard in a very small space. Use battery-powered lanterns, headlamps, or flashlights instead. Keep at least one within arm's reach at all times — not buried in a storage compartment.

Lighting

Get your battery-powered lanterns or LED flashlights out right away. A good lantern that can light up the main living area makes an outage go from stressful to manageable almost immediately. Headlamps are useful if you need to move around and keep your hands free. Keep one in your bedside drawer and one in the kitchen at all times.

Carbon Monoxide — Know the Rules

During a power outage, some campers are tempted to run a generator close to the rig or bring a gas-powered device inside for heat or cooking. Never do this. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and lethal in an enclosed space. Generators must be run well away from the RV — at least 20 feet — and never under an awning or near any window or vent. If your CO detector goes off, get everyone outside immediately and call 911.

Keep Your Phone Charged

Your phone is your connection to weather updates, emergency services, and campground staff. During an outage, switch it to low power mode and avoid streaming or unnecessary use. A portable battery bank (power bank) is one of the most useful things you can keep in your rig — charge it regularly so it's ready when you need it.

□️ Step 3 — Staying Comfortable During the Outage

Safety comes first, then comfort. Here's how to manage temperature, food, and water while you wait for power to return.

Managing Heat in Summer

Losing the AC on a hot summer day is the most uncomfortable scenario for most campers. Open windows and vents at opposite ends of the rig to create cross-ventilation — this is more effective than you'd think. Head outside to the shade, the lake, or a covered area. A battery-powered fan can make a real difference if you have one. Stay hydrated and avoid physical exertion during peak heat.

□ At Buckeye Beach Park, the lake and sandy beach three blocks away become your best friends during a hot-day outage. Get in the water — it's the most effective cooling method available.

Managing Cold in Fall or Spring

If the outage happens on a cold night, your RV propane furnace will still work — it runs on propane, not shore power (though it does use a small amount of battery power to run the thermostat and blower). Switch it on and close up the rig. Layer up with blankets and warm clothing. If you have a propane stove, a warm meal does a lot for morale on a cold night.

⚠️ Never use your propane oven or stove burners for heat. They produce carbon monoxide in an enclosed space. Use them for cooking only — with a window cracked — and rely on your furnace for warmth.

Your Refrigerator & Food Safety

Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. A full refrigerator stays cold for about 4 hours with the door closed; a full freezer holds for up to 48 hours. Only open them when necessary and close them quickly.

If the outage extends beyond 4 hours, move perishables to a cooler with ice if you have one. The general rule: when in doubt, throw it out. Food poisoning is not worth the savings.

□ RV absorption refrigerators (the most common type) will switch to propane mode automatically during a power outage if set to auto — make sure yours is set that way before you need it.

Cooking Without Shore Power

Your propane stove and outdoor grill both work fine without shore power. Cook outside when you can — it keeps heat out of the rig in summer and is generally more enjoyable anyway. This is a good time for the campfire meal you've been meaning to try. Keep a few non-perishable easy meals on hand (canned soups, pasta, peanut butter) so you always have something to fall back on.

□ Step 4 — Water During an Outage

City Water Still Works

Good news — if you're connected to campground water at your site, a power outage doesn't affect your fresh water supply. The water comes from pressure at the spigot, not electricity. You'll still have running water for drinking, washing hands, and flushing. Your water pump (which draws from your fresh water tank) does run on battery power, so that's a backup if you're not connected to city water.

Hot Water

If your water heater runs on propane (or has a propane setting), it will continue to work during a power outage. Switch it to propane mode if you need hot water. Electric-only water heaters won't work until power is restored — in that case, heat water on the stove for washing up.

□ Be Prepared Before It Happens

The campers who handle power outages best are the ones who already had a few things in the rig. Here's what we recommend keeping on hand:

□ Battery-Powered Lanterns & Headlamps

At least one good LED lantern that can light up your living space, and headlamps for everyone in the rig. Check the batteries at the start of each camping season and replace as needed. Rechargeable lanterns are ideal — keep them topped up via your shore power so they're always ready.

□ Portable Battery Bank (Power Bank)

A quality power bank keeps your phones, tablets, and small devices charged through an outage. Get one with enough capacity to charge your phone multiple times — 20,000mAh or more is ideal. Keep it plugged in and topped off whenever you're connected to shore power.

□️ Surge Protector or EMS

A surge protector doesn't prevent outages, but it protects your rig when power comes back on — often with a spike that can damage appliances. It also protects against bad power at the pedestal that could fry your electrical system without you knowing. If you don't have one, this is the single most important piece of electrical equipment to add to your rig.

□ Non-Perishable Food & Water Supply

Keep a small stash of non-perishable food that doesn't require cooking — crackers, peanut butter, canned goods, protein bars, trail mix. A few gallons of bottled water stored in your rig is good practice for any emergency, not just outages. You don't need a survivalist stockpile — just enough to be comfortable for 24 hours.

□ Portable Generator (Optional)

A portable generator gives you a real backup power source for longer outages. Make sure it's properly rated for your needs, always run it at least 20 feet from your RV with exhaust pointed away from windows and vents, and never run it inside an enclosed space or under your awning. Check your campground's generator rules before you arrive — some parks have quiet hours or designated generator areas.

□ Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using candles inside the RV for lighting. An open flame in a small space is a serious fire risk. Always use battery-powered lighting.

Running a generator too close to the rig. Carbon monoxide kills quietly. Keep generators at least 20 feet away and never run them under an awning or near vents.

Using a propane stove or oven for heat. Cook with it, not heat with it. Propane combustion produces CO in an enclosed space — always crack a window when cooking and never use it as a heater.

Plugging everything back in at once when power returns. Let power stabilize for a minute or two, then reconnect appliances one at a time to avoid tripping breakers or surging sensitive electronics.

Opening the fridge repeatedly. Every time you open it you lose cold air. Keep it closed as much as possible and only open when necessary. That food will stay safe longer than you think if you leave the door shut.

Power outages are one of those things that sound worse than they are. Most of the time they're resolved within a few hours and become nothing more than a story you tell around the campfire later. The campers who handle them the smoothest are the ones who didn't panic, had a flashlight within reach, and knew to check their own breaker before assuming the worst.

We take our electrical infrastructure seriously at Buckeye Beach Park and work quickly to resolve any issues that come up on our end. But no campground is immune to what the weather and the power grid throw at us — so a little preparation on your side goes a long way.

Stay safe, stay comfortable, and as always — if something's going on at your site, stop by the office or flag down a staff member. We're here. □

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□ Come Stay at Buckeye Beach Park

The only RV park and marina right on Buckeye Lake — with electric, water, and sewer hookups on every seasonal site. Family-owned since 1986. About 45 minutes east of Columbus.

Visit Our Website □ 740-538-LAKE

□ buckeyebeachpark.com

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