Power outages come in two kinds: the short ones that end before dinner gets cold, and the long ones that follow storms, wildfires, heat waves and grid emergencies. A blackout kit gets you through both, but only if it exists before the lights go out. This guide covers what to include, how to organize it, and the safety rules that matter most, drawing on guidance from Ready.gov and the CDC.
Sources: Ready.gov: Power Outages, the CDC's power outage safety guidance, and the CDC's food safety after an emergency page.
Start with your household
Before buying anything, answer a few questions:
- How many people and pets need to be covered, and for how long? Plan for at least a few days.
- Does anyone rely on powered medical equipment, refrigerated medication or a mobility device?
- Does your water come from a well with an electric pump? If so, an outage means no running water.
- Is your heating or cooking electric? Are you in a hot or cold climate?
- Where will the kit live so everyone can find it in the dark?
Your answers decide how much water, power and comfort gear you need.
Layer 1: Light
Light is the first thing you'll reach for. Ready.gov advises using flashlights rather than candles, which are a fire hazard.
- LED lanterns light a room or a table. One per main living area.
- Headlamps keep your hands free for cooking, caring for kids or working on the breaker panel. One per adult.
- Flashlights for every bedroom, kept in the same spot.
- Spare batteries in every size your lights use, or a way to recharge them.
Standardizing on one or two battery sizes (such as AA and AAA) makes spares simpler.
Layer 2: Information and communication
- A battery or hand-crank radio with NOAA Weather Radio reception, so you can hear warnings if cell service fails. See our emergency radio comparison.
- A written contact list with family, neighbors, your utility's outage line, doctors and insurance.
- Charged power banks for every phone in the house.
- Your utility's outage alerts, set up in advance by text or app, and know how to report an outage.
Layer 3: Water
Ready.gov recommends storing at least one gallon of water per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation. Store more for hot climates, pregnant or nursing people, and pets. Commercially bottled water is easiest; keep it in a cool, dark place and rotate it according to the expiration date. If you're on well water, store extra for flushing and washing.
Layer 4: Food
- Non-perishable foods that need little or no cooking: canned goods, nut butters, crackers, cereal, dried fruit, shelf-stable milk.
- A manual can opener.
- Food for infants, special diets and pets.
- A way to heat food safely, used only according to its instructions. Never use a grill, camp stove or charcoal indoors.
Refrigerator and freezer rules
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. According to the CDC, a refrigerator keeps food safe for up to 4 hours without power; a full freezer keeps its temperature for about 48 hours, and a half-full freezer for about 24 hours. The CDC advises throwing out perishable refrigerated food, such as meat, fish, eggs, milk and leftovers, after 4 hours without power, and FoodSafety.gov says to discard refrigerated perishables that have been above 40°F for 2 hours or more. A refrigerator thermometer takes the guesswork out. When in doubt, throw it out.
Layer 5: Health and safety
- First-aid kit, plus a supply of prescription medications and copies of prescriptions.
- Medical devices: if anyone uses a CPAP, oxygen concentrator or other powered device, talk with the provider about an outage plan. Ask your utility whether it has a medical priority program. A portable power station sized for the device can bridge outages.
- Carbon monoxide alarms with battery power or battery backup on every level and near sleeping areas.
- A fire extinguisher and smoke alarms with working batteries.
- Hygiene supplies: wipes, hand sanitizer, trash bags, toilet paper.
Layer 6: Power
Power is where kits get expensive, so match it to need.
| Need | Practical option |
|---|---|
| Phones and small devices | Power banks, one or two per person |
| Lights, Wi-Fi, laptop, CPAP | Portable power station, roughly 500 to 1,000 Wh |
| Refrigerator for part of the day | Power station around 1,000 to 2,000 Wh, ideally with solar |
| Well pump, furnace, multiple large loads | Fuel generator with a professionally installed transfer switch |
Our sizing guide explains how to calculate your needs.
Generator safety
If you use a fuel generator, the CDC's rules are non-negotiable: run it only outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and vents, and never inside a home, basement, garage or crawl space, even with doors open. Never connect a generator to a wall outlet. Use a transfer switch or interlock installed by a licensed electrician, and heavy-duty outdoor-rated cords. See our generator accessories guide.
Layer 7: Comfort
- Cold weather: blankets, sleeping bags, warm layers, hats. Never use a gas oven or stove to heat your home.
- Hot weather: battery fans, cooling towels, a plan to go to a cooling center if it gets dangerous.
- Entertainment: books, cards, games, especially for kids.
- Cash in small bills, since card readers and ATMs may be down.
Before, during and after
Before
- Charge power banks, power stations and phones when storms are forecast.
- Fill the car's tank; gas stations need power to pump.
- Freeze containers of water to help keep the freezer cold.
- Know how to open your garage door manually.
During
- Unplug sensitive electronics to protect them from surges when power returns.
- Leave one light switched on so you know when power is back.
- Check on neighbors, especially older adults.
- Stay away from downed power lines and report them to your utility.
After
- Check food temperatures and discard anything unsafe.
- Recharge everything and restock what you used.
- Note what you missed and add it to the kit.
Organize and maintain
Keep the core kit in one or two labeled bins near an exit or in a central closet, with a flashlight on top. Water and bulky items can live nearby. Twice a year, perhaps when clocks change, check battery dates, recharge power banks and stations, rotate water and food, test radios and alarms, and update the contact list. A pre-packed emergency kit can be a helpful foundation, but tailor it with your household's medications, documents and lights.
The bottom line
A good blackout kit is organized, in one place and maintained. Build it in layers: light, information, water, food, health and safety, then power and comfort. Follow the two rules that save the most lives: no candles if you can avoid them, and never run a generator indoors. The picks below cover safe lighting and a pre-packed starter kit.
