Most outages are short and boring, and that's the best kind. But when one runs into the evening or overnight, a few simple items make the difference between a mild hassle and a miserable night. This list sticks to what federal and Red Cross guidance actually recommends, with no fear-mongering and no gadgets you'll never use.
1. Light for everyone
Ready.gov recommends flashlights for every household member. The Red Cross advises using flashlights rather than candles because candles are a fire risk. Put one in each bedroom and one in the kitchen, plus a headlamp if you'll need your hands free.
Checklist: a flashlight per person, spare batteries, and a headlamp or lantern for shared spaces.
2. A way to get information
Ready.gov's basic kit includes a battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert. NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts official National Weather Service warnings 24 hours a day, which matters when cell networks are busy or your phone is dying.
Checklist: a battery or hand-crank radio, extra batteries, and your utility's outage page and phone number saved in your phone.
3. Backup power for small devices
Ready.gov suggests planning for batteries and other alternative power sources, such as a portable charger or power bank. Start by listing everything you use that runs on electricity, which is the first step on Ready.gov’s outage checklist.
Checklist: a charged power bank (top it off monthly), charging cables, and a car charger.
4. Water
Some homes, especially those on well pumps, lose running water when the power goes out. Ready.gov recommends storing at least one gallon of water per person per day for several days, for both drinking and sanitation. Children, nursing mothers, sick people and anyone in hot weather may need more.
Checklist: stored water based on your household size, and a plan for pets (see Ready.gov’s pet guidance).
5. Food that doesn't need the fridge
Keep the fridge and freezer closed as much as you can. A closed refrigerator keeps food cold for about four hours, and a full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours. In the meantime, eat from a supply of non-perishable food that needs little or no cooking. A manual can opener is easy to forget.
Checklist: several days of shelf-stable food, a manual can opener, a cooler and ice packs, and a fridge thermometer.
6. First aid and medications
A first aid kit belongs in every home kit. If anyone in your household takes refrigerated medicine or uses a powered medical device, Ready.gov suggests talking to your medical provider about a power outage plan, including how long the medication can be stored at higher temperatures.
Checklist: a first aid kit, a supply of prescriptions, and your medical device backup plan written down.
7. Carbon monoxide alarms
This one isn't optional. Ready.gov recommends carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup in central locations on every level of your home. Outages are when people reach for generators, camp stoves and grills, and every one of them produces CO.
8. Comfort and sanitation
The Ready.gov kit list also includes moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation, a whistle, and a wrench or pliers to turn off utilities. Add blankets for cold snaps. For heat waves, Ready.gov suggests going to a community location with power if the temperature becomes extreme.
What not to do
- Don't use a gas stove or oven to heat your home.
- Don't use generators, camp stoves or charcoal grills indoors. Ready.gov says to use them outdoors and at least 20 feet from windows.
- Don't leave appliances plugged in. Power can return with surges.
A word on generators
If you use a portable generator, run it outside only. The CDC says never to use a generator inside your home or garage, even with doors and windows open, and the CPSC adds crawlspaces and sheds to that list. Ready.gov says generators and fuel should be at least 20 feet away from windows, doors and attached garages. The CDC calls carbon monoxide an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death and recommends a battery-powered or battery backup CO detector in your home whenever you use a generator. Ready.gov says to let the generator cool before refueling. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet. The CPSC calls this "backfeeding" extremely dangerous: it creates an electrocution risk for utility workers and neighbors served by the same transformer, and it bypasses some of your home's built-in circuit protection. If you want a generator connected to your home's wiring, talk to a licensed electrician about a properly installed transfer switch. That's not a DIY job.
Keep it in one spot
A kit only helps if you can find it in the dark. Pick one bin or bag, store it somewhere everyone knows, and check the batteries and power banks twice a year. If you'd like a head start, our Premium Power Outage Kit bundles outage essentials, and the 15-Gallon Water Storage Tank covers the water side. Compare what's inside against this list and add whatever your household needs, like medications, pet supplies and chargers for your devices.