Poland government issues safety guidelines for power outages

The Polish government, through the Ministry of Interior and Administration, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Government Security Centre, has issued official safety recommendations regarding long-term power outages and infrastructure failures.

Authorities warn that a blackout can extend beyond loss of electricity to include the failure of telecommunications. Because mobile base stations rely on the power grid, a widespread outage may disable mobile networks, making it impossible to make calls, send messages, or access the internet, even if a personal device is fully charged. The government advises citizens to prepare alternative sources of information and communication.

Additionally, the guidelines emphasize the importance of maintaining a supply of cash in various denominations. As cashless payments become the norm, a technical failure in the power grid or payment systems could prevent access to funds via cards, phones, or watches. The government recommends keeping smaller denominations on hand to facilitate the purchase of basic goods during a crisis.