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Power outage checklist: what to prepare, and what to do before, during and after
Hurricanes on the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, ice storms in the South, wildfire shutoffs in the West, blizzards in the Midwest — most American households will face a multi-day outage at some point. This checklist is built to be printed and kept with your flashlights, because you won't be able to look it up when your phone is at 4%.
What to prepare for a power outage: supply list with quantities
Use this table to see exactly how much your household needs. Quantities are per person unless noted; start with the 3-day column and build toward 2 weeks.
| Item | 3-day minimum | 2-week goal | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drinking & cooking water | 3 gal / person | 14 gal / person | 1 gal per person per day; more in heat, for nursing mothers and pets (water guide) |
| No-cook food | 3 days of meals | 14 days of meals | Canned meat, beans, soups, peanut butter, crackers, oats, dried fruit + manual can opener |
| Flashlights / LED lanterns | 1 per person | 1 per person + 1 lantern per room used | Avoid candles — they're a leading cause of fires during outages |
| Batteries | 2 full sets per device | 4+ sets per device | Check sizes (AA, AAA, D) for every light and radio |
| Emergency radio | 1 per household | 1 + spare batteries | Battery or hand-crank NOAA Weather Radio |
| Phone power | 1 charged power bank / person | Portable power station or solar charger | A power station is essential if anyone uses a CPAP or oxygen |
| Prescription medications | 7 days | 14+ days | Plus a written list of doses, pharmacy and doctor numbers |
| First aid kit | 1 per household | 1 + refills | Include pain relievers, bandages, gloves, a tourniquet |
| CO alarms | 1 per level + near bedrooms | Same, with spare batteries | Battery-powered or battery backup |
| Cash | $100–$200 in small bills | $300+ | Card readers and ATMs stop working |
| Warmth | Blankets / sleeping bag per person | Cold-rated sleeping bags | In winter climates (staying warm safely) |
| Sanitation | Wet wipes, trash bags | + bucket toilet kit, bleach | Toilets may not flush if water pressure drops |
If you only buy five things this week
- Water (or containers to fill)
- A bright LED flashlight or lantern for each person, plus batteries
- A battery-powered carbon monoxide alarm
- A NOAA Weather Radio
- A power bank for every phone
Before: prepare now (or when a storm is forecast)
- Water: 1 gallon per person per day — at least 3 days, ideally 2 weeks (full water guide)
- Food: shelf-stable food that needs no cooking, plus a manual can opener
- Light: flashlights or LED lanterns and spare batteries for each person — not candles
- Information: a battery or hand-crank NOAA Weather Radio
- Power: charged power banks; a portable power station if anyone relies on a CPAP, oxygen concentrator or other medical device
- Medications: at least a week of prescriptions, plus a written list of doses and doctor contacts
- Carbon monoxide alarms with battery backup on every level and outside sleeping areas
- Cash in small bills — card readers and ATMs go down with the grid
- Fuel: fill your car's gas tank; gas station pumps need electricity
- Fridge & freezer: appliance thermometers in both; freeze containers of water to help keep food cold
- Utility: save your utility's outage line and app; if someone in your home depends on powered medical equipment, ask about its medical-needs or priority program
During: the first hour
- Check on everyone in the house and on elderly neighbors
- Report the outage to your utility; check whether it's your home, your street or a wider area
- Fill bathtubs and clean containers with water while pressure is still on
- Keep the fridge and freezer closed
- Unplug sensitive electronics and appliances to protect them from surges when power returns; leave one lamp switched on so you know when it's back
- Switch phones to low-power mode and turn down screen brightness
During: the first days
- Eat perishable food first, then freezer food, then shelf-stable food (what to keep and toss, or check item by item with our power outage food safety calculator)
- Run generators only outdoors, at least 20 feet from the house (full generator safety rules), with exhaust pointed away from doors and windows — never in a garage, basement or crawlspace, even with the door open
- Never heat your home with a gas stove or oven, and never use a charcoal or propane grill indoors
- In cold weather, heat one small room and dress in layers (staying warm safely); let faucets drip to help keep pipes from freezing
- In hot weather, stay on the lowest floor, drink water, and go to a cooling center if anyone shows signs of heat illness
- Stay away from downed power lines — assume every one is live and report it to the utility or 911
- Get updates from the NOAA Weather Radio, local AM/FM stations and Wireless Emergency Alerts
After: when the power comes back
- Wait a few minutes before plugging appliances back in, one at a time
- Check fridge and freezer temperatures and throw out unsafe food — when in doubt, throw it out (food safety calculator)
- Follow any boil-water advisory until your utility lifts it
- Restock what you used: water, batteries, medications, cash, fuel
- Write down what went wrong and fix it before the next storm
Power outage FAQ
What should I prepare for a power outage?
At minimum: 1 gallon of water per person per day, no-cook food and a manual can opener, flashlights and batteries, a NOAA Weather Radio, charged power banks, a week of medications, a first aid kit, battery CO alarms, cash and a full gas tank. See the supply table above for quantities.
What is the first thing to do when the power goes out?
Check on everyone, use flashlights (not candles), report the outage to your utility, keep the fridge and freezer closed, fill containers with water while pressure is on, and unplug sensitive electronics.
How long does food last in the fridge without power?
About 4 hours with the door closed; a full freezer about 48 hours (24 if half full). Full rules in our fridge food safety guide.
Is it safe to run a generator in the garage?
No — not even with the door open. Run generators outdoors, at least 20 feet from the house, with the exhaust pointed away from doors and windows.
How do I prepare for a power outage in an apartment?
Focus on compact supplies: stackable water bricks or a bathtub water storage bladder, LED lanterns instead of candles, a power bank per person, no-cook food, and a plan with neighbors. Never use a grill or camp stove indoors or on an enclosed balcony.
Turn this checklist into a full plan
5 manuals + an offline app that shows how many days your household is covered. $19 once, instant download, 60-day money-back guarantee.
Get the Protocol Survival SystemRelated guides
- How much water to store for an emergency
- Emergency food storage: a 2-week list
- Generator safety during a power outage
- Emergency kit list (72-hour kit)
- How to stay warm without power
- How to make a family emergency plan
- Take the free Grid-Down Readiness Test