Living Alone Guide Part 19: Emergency Situations

Emergencies Can Be Stressful

Living alone means dealing with sudden leaks, power outages, or getting locked out. Knowing what to do beforehand helps you stay calm.

1. Power Outage

First Checks

• Is it just your unit or the whole building?
• Check your circuit breaker
• If tripped from overload, reset it

What to Do

• Just your unit: Reset breaker, call building management if needed
• Whole building: Wait (management handles it)
• Area-wide: Contact power company

Be Prepared

• Keep flashlight or rechargeable lantern
• Keep phone charger always charged
• Know where your circuit breaker is

2. Water Leak

Immediate Actions

• Turn off water valve (under sink, in bathroom)
• Mop up water with towels
• Contact building management or landlord

By Situation

• Leak from upstairs: Check with neighbor, report to management
• Toilet won't flush: Try plunger, call plumber if serious
• Washing machine hose: Check connection

Know where your water shutoff valve is. You don't want to search for it during an emergency.

3. Gas Smell

Do Immediately

• Turn off gas valve
• Open windows for ventilation
• Don't touch electrical switches (spark risk)
• Evacuate
• Call gas company from outside

If you smell gas, NEVER touch light switches or outlets!

4. Locked Out

What to Do

• Check if building management has a spare key
• Contact your landlord
• Call a locksmith (costs money)

Prevention

• Make spare keys
• Leave one with trusted person
• For smart locks, memorize the code

5. Fire

Evacuate First

• Call 911
• Cover nose/mouth with wet towel
• Stay low while evacuating
• Never use elevator
• Feel door handle temperature before opening

For Small Fires

• Use fire extinguisher
• Pour water (not on electrical fires!)
• If you can't control it, evacuate

6. Clogged Drain

Try First

• Use plunger
• Baking soda + vinegar, then hot water
• Clean the drain trap

If That Doesn't Work

• Call a plumber
• Ask building management

7. Bug Infestation

Emergency Response

• Insecticide spray (ventilate after)
• Seal food, take out trash
• Cover drains

If Severe

• Call pest control
• Request building-wide treatment

8. Be Prepared

Save These Contacts

• Building management
• Landlord
• Locksmith
• Plumber

Emergency Supplies

• Flashlight
• Fire extinguisher
• Plunger
• Spare keys

Wrap-up

Emergencies can happen anytime. Save contacts and know basic responses—you'll handle things much more calmly.

Next up, the final part: One Year Living Alone Review. Let's look back at the journey!