Power outages are the single most common emergency in the United States. Whether it's a summer thunderstorm that knocks out your block for six hours or an ice storm that takes the grid down for a week, the prep is essentially the same. You just need more of everything for the longer version.
This post breaks that prep into two scenarios and walks you through every category, so you can build your kit at whatever pace makes sense for your budget.
Two Scenarios: Know Which One You're Prepping For
Short outage (a few hours to one day): Lights are out, your phone needs charging, and dinner plans have changed. This is the most common scenario by far. A basic kit handles it with ease.
Extended outage (multiple days to a week or more): This is what happens after a major storm, heat event, or grid infrastructure failure. Food safety becomes a real concern. Temperature management matters. Medical equipment users need a backup power plan. This is where prep pays off the most.
Power Outage Preparedness Checklist
Lighting
Headlamps are the real MVP here. They keep your hands free while you cook, help kids, or navigate unfamiliar darkness. Black Diamond headlamp on Amazon ↗
Lanterns give you ambient room light without everyone holding a flashlight. One lantern per main living area is a reasonable target. LED camping lantern on Amazon ↗
Flashlights are still useful as a backup or for directed tasks. Streamlight flashlight on Amazon ↗ Keep one in every bedroom.
Extra batteries — stock at least two full sets for every device.
Power & Charging
A portable power station is now the cornerstone of any modern outage kit. It can run a CPAP machine, charge your phone dozens of times, power a fan, and keep a small cooler running.
For everyday phone charging, a quality battery bank Anker portable battery bank on Amazon ↗ is small, affordable, and should live in your bag already. Keep it charged.
A hand-crank or solar charger hand crank solar charger on Amazon ↗ is your last-resort option if everything else runs dry.
Communication
A NOAA weather radio works when cell towers are overloaded and your internet is down. It's one of the most overlooked pieces of emergency gear.
Charge your phone fully before any storm with advance warning. Keep a written list of emergency contacts somewhere you can find it without your phone.
Food & Water
The refrigerator rule: Keep it closed. An unopened fridge keeps food safe for about four hours; a full, closed freezer holds for up to 48 hours.
Make sure you know where your manual can opener is before the outage, not during it. Manual can opener on Amazon ↗
Have at least a three-day supply of no-cook foods ready to go. Canned goods, nut butter, crackers, trail mix, shelf-stable meals.
If you have advance warning of a major storm, fill your bathtub using a WaterBOB WaterBOB on Amazon ↗ — it holds up to 100 gallons of clean drinking water.
Temperature & Comfort
Extreme temperatures kill more people during power outages than almost anything else.
For summer outages, battery-powered fans make a significant difference. Know the signs of heat stroke: hot and dry skin, confusion, rapid heartbeat. Get somewhere cool if symptoms appear.
For winter outages, sleeping bags rated for cold temperatures and extra blankets can make an unheated home tolerable for days. Know the early signs of hypothermia: uncontrolled shivering, slurred speech, confusion.
Medical Needs
Refrigerated medications (insulin, some antibiotics, certain biologics) need a plan. Gather a small cooler and ice packs specifically for this purpose.
CPAP users: A portable power station is not optional for you — it's essential. Before you buy one, look up your CPAP machine's wattage.
Before the Outage (If You Have Warning)
When a storm is forecast, run through this list:
- Charge all devices, power banks, and the power station to 100%
- Do a load of laundry and run the dishwasher
- Fill the bathtub with a WaterBOB
- Fill your car with gas (gas stations can't pump without power)
- Move refrigerator-sensitive items to a cooler with ice if needed
After Power Returns
- Check refrigerator food carefully. When in doubt, throw it out. Smell and appearance are not reliable indicators of safety.
- Recharge everything while the power is stable.
- Take notes. What did you run out of? What did you not use? Your kit should evolve after every real-world test.
Master Power Outage Supplies Checklist
| Item | Have It? |
|---|---|
| Headlamp (with extra batteries) | ☐ |
| LED lantern (at least one per floor) | ☐ |
| Flashlight (one per bedroom) | ☐ |
| Extra batteries (standard sizes) | ☐ |
| Portable power station | ☐ |
| Battery bank / power bank | ☐ |
| Hand-crank or solar charger | ☐ |
| NOAA weather radio | ☐ |
| Written emergency contact list | ☐ |
| Manual can opener | ☐ |
| 3-day no-cook food supply | ☐ |
| Water storage (1 gal/person/day min) | ☐ |
| Water filter | ☐ |
| WaterBOB (for advance-warning events) | ☐ |
| Battery-powered or USB fan | ☐ |
| Sleeping bag or extra blankets | ☐ |
| Cooler + ice packs for medications | ☐ |
| Written medication/pharmacy info | ☐ |
| CPAP wattage noted, power station sized | ☐ |
| Car gas topped off | ☐ |
Build It in Pieces
The most common mistake is trying to do everything at once. Pick the category that would hurt most if you lost power tonight and start there. Lighting is usually the easiest and cheapest entry point — a headlamp and a lantern run about $50 combined.
If you want a structured way to build out the rest of your kit, grab the free "5 Simple Steps" starter guide at preparedpathproject.com.