A power outage checklist works best in three phases: before (build a kit and a plan), during (stay safe and keep food cold), and after (check your food and restock). Ready.gov recommends keeping at least a three-day supply of water, food, and essentials on hand.
Use the lists below to get ready now, act safely when the lights go out, and recover cleanly once power returns.
⚠️ Run generators outdoors only
Portable generators give off carbon monoxide. Run them outside, at least 20 feet from windows, doors, and vents, and never in a home, garage, or on a balcony. Keep a battery-powered CO alarm, and never use a gas stove, oven, or grill to heat indoors.
Before the outage
- Store water: at least one gallon per person, per day, for three days or more.
- Keep non-perishable food that needs no cooking, plus a manual can opener.
- Stock flashlights and spare batteries. Skip candles to avoid fire risk.
- Have backup power: a charged power bank for phones, or a battery power station for a fridge and devices.
- Set aside a first-aid kit, a battery or hand-crank radio, and any daily medications.
- Freeze jugs of water to help the freezer hold its cold and to use as drinking water later.
- Charge phones, laptops, and power banks when a storm is in the forecast.
- Sign up for your utility’s outage alerts, and register for its medical-priority program if someone relies on powered equipment.
- Keep some cash, copies of key documents, and know how to open an electric garage door by hand.
During the outage
- Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed. A fridge holds about 4 hours, a full freezer about 48.
- Use flashlights and lanterns, not candles.
- Unplug sensitive electronics so a surge does not damage them when power returns. Leave one light on so you know when it is back.
- Run any generator outdoors only, far from windows and doors. Never use a stove, oven, or grill to heat the house.
- Stay warm by heating one room, or stay cool by blocking the sun and drinking water. Watch older adults, children, and pets.
- Conserve phone battery with low-power mode, and check on neighbors who may need help.
- Report the outage to your utility and follow local emergency guidance.
After the power returns
- Check your food. Throw out perishables that were above 40°F for more than two hours. When in doubt, throw it out, and never taste food to judge it.
- Refreeze items only if they still have ice crystals or are at 40°F or below.
- Plug electronics back in a few at a time, and reset clocks, alarms, and routers.
- Restock your kit: replace used water, batteries, and food, and recharge power banks and stations.
- Note what you ran short on so next time is easier.
Size the backup-power part of your plan
If you want to keep a fridge, lights, or medical equipment running through the next outage, the question is how much power station you need. Run your own numbers with the Power-Station Sizing calculator, or check how long a given battery would last with the Appliance Runtime calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most important things to have for a power outage?
Water (one gallon per person per day), non-perishable food, flashlights with spare batteries, a power bank or battery power station, medications, and a battery or hand-crank radio.
How long does food last in the fridge during an outage?
About 4 hours in a closed refrigerator, and about 48 hours in a full freezer (24 if half full). Keep the doors shut.
Can I run a generator in my garage if the door is open?
No. Generators must run outdoors only, at least 20 feet from windows, doors, and vents. An open garage still traps carbon monoxide.
Should I unplug things during a power outage?
Unplug sensitive electronics to protect them from a surge when power returns. Leaving one light on tells you when the power is back.
How much water should I store?
At least one gallon per person, per day, with a three-day supply as the minimum and two weeks as the ideal.