When I moved from Peru to Canada about ten years ago — long before Spain was even in the picture — I thought I was leaving behind my “emergency kit” days. You know, the backpacks everyone kept ready for earthquakes, with water, flashlights, and maybe some canned tuna. Canada felt safe, stable, and honestly, I welcomed the idea of not needing to think about "go bags" anymore.
Fast forward a decade and here I am in Madrid, loving the city, the sun, the coffee... and suddenly having flashbacks to those old emergency prep talks. Why? Because yesterday’s power outage reminded me that no place is 100% immune from unexpected disruptions.
The blackout that swept across Spain on April 28, 2025, lasted for hours in some areas, cutting internet, mobile signals, and basic services. It was a stark reminder that even in modern cities, a technical glitch can bring everything to a halt. Whether it's a failure, a cyberattack, or geopolitical tension, being a little prepared suddenly seemed not just smart, but essential.
According to Red Eléctrica Española and multiple news outlets like El País, the outage was caused by a fault at a major power station. Initial investigations ruled out sabotage or cyberattacks — it was a technical chain reaction that escalated quickly across the national grid.
But here's the thing: even a "simple" technical failure had wide-reaching consequences. No lights. No internet. No credit card machines. For remote workers like me, it meant instant disconnection from clients, projects, and even basic news updates.
I'm not here to scare anyone, but... let's be real. With ongoing geopolitical tensions, increased cyberattacks across Europe, energy shortages, and climate-induced stresses on infrastructure, future outages are not out of the question.
And look, I'm not turning into a doomsday prepper — but I'd rather have a plan than panic.
If you're from Peru like me (or anywhere prone to natural disasters), you’re probably used to having a "mochila de emergencia." In Spain, the risks are different, but the logic stays the same: a little preparation can save you a lot of stress.
And as a freelancer or remote worker, the stakes are higher: missed deadlines, lost income, broken communications.
Preparing a "remote worker emergency kit" isn't about living in fear. It's about protecting your normal life — your work, your communication, and your peace of mind.
Here’s what I'm putting together based on yesterday's experience (and a little research binge while waiting for the lights to come back on):
Here are some practical, affordable items I've decided to get — not because I'm paranoid, but because I like being comfortable even during small disruptions:
A lot of remote workers (me included!) realize only during an outage how much we depend on home Wi-Fi.
Here are some backup options:
Setting up a simple backup plan for connectivity could save your deadlines, meetings, and even your sanity.
Living in Madrid has been a dream — great weather, great people, and until now, almost no interruptions. But yesterday's power outage reminded me that being "reasonably ready" is part of being a smart adult.
Like we prepared earthquake kits in Peru, maybe it's time to think about "smart emergency packs" for life in Spain — not out of fear, but out of love for our routines, our work, and our peace of mind.
And if you can keep the coffee brewing during a blackout? Even better.
Disclosure: Some links are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Not sure where to start? Book a free 30-minute Zoom call and let’s talk about how I can support you with admin tasks, Spanish paperwork, or scheduling needs.
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