Emergency kits should hold at least 1 gallon of water per person per day, enough for at least 3 days. To prepare your home for a power outage, stock that water plus nonperishable food, lighting, batteries, medicines, and a way to charge your phone. Then plan for medical equipment, put battery-backed alarms on every level, and keep any generator outdoors at least 20 feet from your home.
Quick answer
Build a 3-day kit, plan for medical needs, and set up safe backup power before the lights go out. Keep fuel-burning equipment outside. Unplug sensitive electronics during the outage.
- Best for short outages: power bank, flashlights, and a 3-day kit
- Best for medical devices: a written backup plan and a battery station
- Best for long outages: a standby generator installed by an electrician
- Store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for at least 3 days, and add more for pets and medical needs.
- An unopened refrigerator keeps food cold for about 4 hours. A full freezer holds for about 48 hours.
- Run generators, grills, and camp stoves outdoors at least 20 feet from windows, doors, and vents.
- Never heat your home with a gas oven, stove, or grill.
- Power washing your house is exterior cleaning. It does not prepare your electrical system for an outage.
- How Do I Prepare My Home for a Power Outage?
- What Do I Need to Prepare for a Power Outage?
- How Much Food and Water Should I Store?
- How Should I Prepare Refrigerators, Freezers, and Medicine?
- How Can I Keep My Phone, Lights, and Radio Working?
- How Should I Prepare for Medical Devices?
- How Do I Safely Use a Portable Generator?
- Which Backup Power Option Fits Your Home?
- What Should I Do With Appliances Before Power Returns?
- Cold-Weather and Hot-Weather Precautions
- When Should You Get Your House Power Washed?
- Printable Outage Checklist
- Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Prepare My Home for a Power Outage?
Start with a risk check and a written plan. Ask how often your area loses power, how long outages last, and what in your home depends on electricity. Storms, heat waves, winter weather, and planned utility shutoffs all bring different risks.
Then write down who needs what. Make a short list for each household member, including children, older adults, and pets. Pick a meeting spot, save key phone numbers on paper, and decide where you would go if the home becomes unsafe.
A Household-Member Checklist
| Who | Plan for |
|---|---|
| Every person | Own flashlight, spare batteries, water, copy of ID and contacts |
| Babies and toddlers | Formula, diapers, wipes, bottle-feeding supplies that need no power |
| Older adults | Medicines, spare glasses, hearing aid batteries, mobility aids |
| People on powered medical devices | Backup power, written fallback plan, location to relocate |
| Pets | Food, water, leash or carrier, medicines |
What Do I Need to Prepare for a Power Outage?
You need water, food, light, communication, medicine, warmth or cooling, and backup charging. Ready.gov’s power outage guidance recommends a flashlight for every household member, spare batteries, alternative phone-charging power, and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio.
Three-Day Supplies, Room by Room
- Kitchen: bottled water, canned and dry food, manual can opener, paper plates, appliance thermometers, a cooler and ice packs.
- Bedrooms: a flashlight per person, extra blankets, a battery-backed smoke and carbon-monoxide alarm near sleeping areas.
- Bathroom: medicines, first aid kit, hygiene items, wipes, trash bags.
- Living room: battery or hand-crank radio, power bank, paper list of phone numbers.
- Garage or utility area: fresh batteries, fuel stored as the manufacturer directs (never inside living space), fire extinguisher, work gloves.
Ready.gov also publishes a Build a Kit page if you want a second checklist to compare against.
How Much Food and Water Should I Store?
Store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for at least 3 days, according to Ready.gov. That covers drinking and basic hygiene. Add more for pets and medical needs.
Worked Water Example
Take a family of four with one medium dog. These are planning assumptions, so adjust them for your home:
- People: 4 × 1 gallon × 3 days = 12 gallons
- Dog: assume 0.5 gallon per day × 3 days = 1.5 gallons (ask your vet for your pet’s real need)
- Medical or formula needs: add your own number, for example 1 extra gallon per day = 3 gallons
- Total: about 16.5 gallons
Hot climates call for more. If you can, store a few extra days’ worth.
For food, pick items you can eat cold: canned beans, tuna, peanut butter, crackers, dried fruit, and shelf-stable milk. Choose foods your household will really eat. Include baby food, formula, and special diet items.
How Should I Prepare Refrigerators, Freezers, and Refrigerated Medicine?
Keep doors closed, and put an appliance thermometer in both the refrigerator and the freezer. An unopened refrigerator keeps food cold for about 4 hours. A full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours, according to food safety guidance cited by Ready.gov and the CDC.
Worked Fridge and Freezer Example
Say the power goes out at 6 p.m. and you never open the doors:
- Refrigerator: stays cold until about 10 p.m. the same night.
- Full freezer: stays cold until about 6 p.m. two days later.
- Rule for discarding: food that sat at 40°F or higher for 2 hours or more should be thrown out, especially if the smell, color, or texture is off.
Your thermometer shows the real temperature, so trust it over guesswork. Freeze water bottles ahead of time. They fill empty freezer space, which helps it hold cold longer, and they become drinking water as they thaw.
How Can I Keep My Phone, Lights, and Emergency Radio Working?
Use battery-powered or hand-crank gear, and keep a charged power bank. LED flashlights and lanterns are safer than candles, which start house fires.
Phone Charging Math
You can estimate how many charges a power bank gives you. These are assumptions, not guarantees:
- Power bank: 20,000 mAh at 3.7 V is about 74 Wh of stored energy.
- Conversion losses: assume about 20%, leaving roughly 59 Wh usable.
- Phone battery: assume about 15 Wh.
- Result: about 3 to 4 full phone charges.
Lower your screen brightness, turn on battery saver, and text instead of calling. Save your power bank for emergencies, not daily use. Keep it charged all year.
How Should I Prepare for Medical Devices That Need Electricity?
Make a written plan before an outage, not during one. Talk with your doctor and equipment supplier about backup power and what to do if it fails. Tell your electric utility in advance if someone in your home depends on powered medical equipment, since many utilities keep a priority list. Ask yours.
- Oxygen concentrators and CPAP: ask the supplier about battery runtime and backup tanks. Never run a fuel-burning generator indoors to power them.
- Mobility equipment: keep powered wheelchairs or lifts charged, and know a manual backup.
- Refrigerated medicine: use a cooler plan and know where to relocate.
- Relocation: choose a friend, relative, or hospital to go to if power stays off, and plan how to get there.
For life-sustaining equipment, call 911 in an emergency. A battery station can bridge short gaps, but check that its output suits the device, and confirm with the manufacturer or your provider.
How Do I Safely Use a Portable Generator During an Outage?
Run it outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors, vents, and other openings. Never run it in a home, basement, garage, carport, or other enclosed space. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, and it kills quietly. The CDC explains this in its carbon monoxide poisoning guidance.
Generator Safety Rules
- Install battery-backed carbon monoxide alarms on every level and near sleeping areas.
- Keep the unit dry and on level ground. Do not use it in rain without a proper cover made for generators.
- Let it cool before refueling. Store fuel in approved containers, away from living space and ignition sources.
- Never plug a generator into a wall outlet. That can send power back onto the grid and hurt utility workers.
- Hire a licensed electrician to install a transfer switch or interlock if you want to power household circuits.
From the Shop
The most common mistake with generators is a safe-looking spot that is not safe. A garage with the door cracked open or a generator beside a bedroom window still lets exhaust in. Measure the 20 feet. Point the exhaust away from the house.
Can I Use a Gas Stove, Oven, Grill, or Pressure Washer Indoors for Heat or Power?
No. Gas stoves and ovens are not heaters, and grills, camp stoves, and pressure washers with gas engines must stay outdoors at least 20 feet from openings. All of them make carbon monoxide. Use extra blankets, layers, and a safe shelter instead. If anyone feels dizzy, sick, or has a headache, get outside to fresh air and call 911.
Which Backup Power Option Fits Your Home?
It depends on what you need to run and for how long. This table shows the main choices.
| Option | What it can run | Fuel or charging | Ventilation | Planning complexity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power bank | Phones, small lights, radio | Charge from wall or car beforehand | None needed | Very low |
| Battery station | Phones, laptops, lights, a small medical device or CPAP (check specs) | Charge from wall, car, or solar panels | None needed, but keep it dry and cool | Low |
| Portable generator | Fridge, lights, some tools, if sized correctly | Gasoline, propane, or dual fuel; store fuel safely | Outdoors only, 20+ feet from openings | Medium |
| Standby generator | Selected circuits or whole house, by size | Natural gas or propane line | Installed outdoors per code | High, needs permits and a licensed pro |
Add up the running watts of what you want to power. Check each device’s label. Then compare that to the unit’s rated output. Starting watts for motors, like a refrigerator compressor, can be higher.
What Should I Do With Appliances and Electronics Before the Power Returns?
Turn off or unplug sensitive appliances and electronics. Ready.gov and the CDC both advise this, because a surge when power returns can damage them. The CDC’s power outage guidance covers more safety steps.
- Unplug computers, TVs, microwaves, and game consoles.
- Turn off stoves, space heaters, and other heat-producing items.
- Leave one light on so you know when power returns.
- When power comes back, wait several minutes. Then plug items back in one at a time.
- Check fridge and freezer temperatures. Throw out food held at 40°F or higher for 2 hours or more.
If you see flooding, damaged wires, or smell burning, stay away and call your utility or a licensed electrician.
Cold-Weather and Hot-Weather Outage Precautions
In Cold Weather
Close off unused rooms, hang blankets over windows at night, and wear layers and a hat. Move everyone into one room. Check that alarms have fresh batteries. Never use a stove, oven, or grill for heat.
In Hot Weather
Stay in the lowest, coolest part of your home. Drink water, wear light clothing, and close blinds on sun-facing windows. Check on older neighbors, children, and pets. If heat becomes dangerous, move to a cooling center or a friend’s home. Watch for signs of heat illness, like confusion, nausea, or a very high temperature, and call 911.
When Should You Get Your House Power Washed?
Power washing is routine exterior maintenance, often done once a year or when dirt, mildew, or algae build up. It does not prepare your electrical service for an outage. The phrase “power washed” means pressure washing here, not backup power.
It still fits a storm-season to-do list. Do it before severe weather, along with clearing gutters, trimming branches near the house and service lines, and checking the roof. Keep water spray away from the electric meter, service panel, outlets, light fixtures, and overhead wires. Hire a licensed electrician for any electrical work, and never spray near damaged lines. Do not use gas-powered washers inside a garage.
Printable Outage Checklist
Before the Outage
- Store 1 gallon of water per person per day for at least 3 days.
- Stock nonperishable food and a manual can opener.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and replace batteries.
- Put appliance thermometers in the fridge and freezer.
- Charge power banks, phones, and battery stations.
- Fill prescriptions and write down your medical backup plan.
- Have an electrician set up any generator connection.
During the Outage
- Keep fridge and freezer doors closed.
- Use flashlights, not candles.
- Run generators, grills, and camp stoves outdoors, 20+ feet from openings.
- Unplug sensitive electronics.
- Check on neighbors, older adults, and pets.
- Call 911 for emergencies.
After Restoration
- Wait a few minutes, then plug devices back in one at a time.
- Check food temperatures and discard unsafe items.
- Restock water, batteries, and food.
- Refuel generators safely once cool.
- Note what went wrong and update your plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to prepare your home for power outage?
Build a 3-day kit with water, food, lights, batteries, and medicines. Install battery-backed smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Plan for medical devices, charge backup power, and keep any generator outdoors at least 20 feet from openings. Unplug sensitive electronics when the power goes out.
What do you need to prepare for power outage?
At minimum: 1 gallon of water per person per day for 3 days, nonperishable food, a flashlight for each person, spare batteries, a battery or hand-crank radio, a phone power bank, medicines, and a first aid kit. Add pet supplies, baby items, and appliance thermometers as needed.
When should you get your house power washed?
Do it as part of seasonal home maintenance, often before storm season or when grime builds up. It cleans siding and walkways but does not prepare your electrical system for an outage. Keep spray away from the meter, panel, and outlets, and hire a licensed electrician for electrical work.
How long does food last in a fridge or freezer without power?
An unopened refrigerator keeps food cold for about 4 hours. A full freezer holds for about 48 hours. Discard food that has been at 40°F or higher for 2 hours or more.
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