Get your home ready for a multi-day power outage
Most outages last hours. The ones that cost money and safety last days, and they are the ones worth planning for.
Light and power the basics
Plan for three days without grid power, and never run fuel-burning equipment indoors.
- One battery lantern or headlamp per person, plus spare batteries
- A power bank that can recharge every phone in the household twice
- Keep gas generators outdoors and far from windows because of carbon monoxide risk
- A working carbon monoxide alarm on every sleeping level
Handle heat and cold
Temperature is the real hazard in a long outage. Decide in advance whether you shelter in place or leave.
- Cold: pick one room to heat, seal drafts, use sleeping bags rated below your indoor low
- Heat: identify a cooling center or a friend with power, and move early rather than late
- Know how to open your garage door and gates manually
Protect food, water, and medication
Refrigerated food is safe about four hours; a full freezer holds roughly 48 hours if kept closed.
- Keep an appliance thermometer in the fridge and freezer, and discard perishables above 40F for over two hours
- Store one gallon of water per person per day for three days
- Ask your pharmacy and utility about medical device priority registration if someone depends on power
- Have a cooler and frozen jugs ready to move essentials such as insulin
Before storm season
A short annual pass prevents most outage damage.
- Clear gutters and trim branches near lines and the roof
- Test the sump pump and consider a battery backup
- Photograph rooms for insurance and store the photos in the cloud
- Keep cash on hand, since card terminals fail with the power
Common questions
How long does food stay safe without power?
About four hours in an unopened refrigerator and roughly 48 hours in a full, unopened freezer. Discard perishable food held above 40F for more than two hours.
How much water should I store for an outage?
One gallon per person per day for at least three days, covering drinking and basic sanitation. Add more for pets and hot climates.
Is a portable generator safe to use at home?
Only outdoors, well away from windows, doors, and vents. Carbon monoxide from generators used indoors or in garages is a leading cause of outage deaths.
See where your household stands
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- Hurricane preparedness checklist for your household
- Earthquake preparedness checklist for your household
- Tornado preparedness checklist for your household
- Flood preparedness checklist for your household
- Wildfire preparedness checklist for your household
- Winter storm and power outage checklist
- Evacuation go bag checklist
- Car emergency kit checklist
- Pet emergency preparedness checklist
- Emergency water and food storage
- Prepare your household for a heat wave
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- Florida hurricane preparedness for households
- Texas winter storm and grid outage preparedness
- Emergency preparedness for renters
- Oklahoma tornado preparedness
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- Set up an emergency fund that actually gets used
- Run an annual insurance coverage review
- Document your accounts and passwords for your household