Power Outage Preparedness Checklist: What Every Home Should Have
Power outages can last a few minutes, a few hours, or several days. This checklist will help you prepare your home before the lights go out.
Why Prepare for a Power Outage?
Knowing how to prepare for blackouts can help your family stay safe, comfortable, and informed during both short-term outages and extended power failures. Power outages are among the most common emergencies households experience. Severe weather, wildfires, accidents, equipment failures, grid issues, and overloaded systems can all leave homes without electricity.
A little preparation can make a major difference in comfort and safety. The goal is to keep your household lit, informed, charged, hydrated, fed, and safe until power returns.
For cold-weather outages, use our winter power outage preparedness checklist to prepare lighting, phone power, food, water, heat safety, and car supplies before the lights go out.
1. Emergency Lighting
Never rely only on your phone flashlight during a prolonged outage. Your phone battery should be preserved for communication, alerts, maps, and emergency calls.
- Flashlights
- Headlamps
- Emergency lanterns
- Extra batteries
- Easy-to-reach storage locations
Flashlight
A dependable flashlight should be available in multiple rooms, especially bedrooms, kitchens, and hallways.
View FlashlightHeadlamp
A headlamp keeps both hands free during repairs, cleanup, cooking, and checking on family members.
View HeadlampEmergency Lantern
A lantern provides room lighting during longer outages and is especially useful for families.
View LanternBattery Organizer
Keeping batteries organized makes it easier to know what you have before an outage starts.
View Battery Organizer2. Backup Power for Phones
Your phone may become your main communication tool during an outage. Keep at least one backup battery bank charged and ready.
- Battery bank
- Phone charging cables
- Fully charged devices before storms
- Low-power mode enabled when needed
3. Emergency Information
Internet service and cell networks may become unreliable during some outages. A backup source of emergency information is important.
- Weather alerts
- Emergency broadcasts
- Local evacuation notices
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
NOAA Emergency Radio
Provides emergency information when internet and cell service are unavailable.
View NOAA Radio4. Water Preparedness
Many people assume water will always keep flowing during an outage. That is not always guaranteed, especially if pumps, treatment systems, wells, or local infrastructure are affected.
- Stored drinking water
- Water containers
- Water filtration backup
- Extra water for pets
Portable Water Filter
A backup option if stored water becomes limited or water quality becomes uncertain.
View Water FilterCollapsible Water Container
Useful for storing or transporting additional water before or during an emergency.
View Water Container5. Food During a Blackout
Keep foods that require little or no preparation. During a power outage, avoid opening the refrigerator or freezer more than necessary to preserve cold temperatures.
- Canned foods
- Emergency food kits
- Protein bars
- Peanut butter
- Shelf-stable snacks
- Manual can opener
Emergency Food Kit
A long-shelf-life option for households that want ready-to-store emergency food.
View Emergency Food Kit6. First Aid and Medical Needs
Emergencies often increase the likelihood of small injuries, falls, cuts, burns, or medication problems. Keep medical basics ready before the lights go out.
- First aid kit
- Prescription medications
- Medication list
- Medical device backup plan
- Doctor and pharmacy contact information
First Aid Kit
A basic first aid kit helps treat minor injuries during blackouts, storms, and home emergencies.
View First Aid Kit7. Stay Warm or Cool
Temperature control can become a major safety issue during extended outages. Prepare based on your local climate and season.
- Emergency blankets
- Extra clothing
- Layered clothing
- Safe sleeping area
- Battery-powered fans if appropriate
- Cooling plan for hot climates
Emergency Blanket
Compact and useful for retaining warmth during cold-weather outages or emergency situations.
View Emergency Blanket8. Hygiene and Sanitation
Power outages can affect water, plumbing, refrigeration, and trash handling. Keep basic hygiene supplies ready.
- Hand soap
- Wet wipes
- Toilet paper
- Heavy-duty trash bags
- Paper towels
- Personal hygiene supplies
Heavy-Duty Trash Bags
Useful for sanitation, cleanup, emergency storage, and separating contaminated items.
View Trash Bags9. Important Documents and Emergency Cash
Power outages can disrupt banking apps, card readers, and access to digital records. Keep important documents and a small amount of emergency cash protected.
- Identification copies
- Insurance information
- Emergency contacts
- Medical information
- Emergency cash in small bills
Waterproof Document Pouch
Protect copies of important records and emergency cash from moisture or spills.
View Document Pouch10. What to Do Before a Forecasted Outage
If a storm, wildfire warning, heat wave, or planned outage is expected, take action before the power goes out.
- Charge all phones and battery banks.
- Fill water containers.
- Check flashlights and batteries.
- Turn refrigerator and freezer to colder settings if appropriate.
- Locate the first aid kit.
- Move flashlights to easy-to-reach places.
- Review emergency contacts.
- Bring outdoor items inside before storms.
- Refuel vehicles if needed.
Power Outage Checklist
- Flashlights
- Headlamps
- Emergency lantern
- Battery bank
- Charging cables
- NOAA emergency radio
- Stored water
- Water filter
- Water container
- Emergency food
- Manual can opener
- First aid kit
- Prescription medications
- Emergency blanket
- Trash bags
- Hand soap
- Important documents
- Emergency cash
Printable Power Outage Preparedness Checklist
Print this checklist and keep it with your emergency supplies before the next blackout.
- ☐ Flashlights
- ☐ Headlamps
- ☐ Emergency lantern
- ☐ Extra batteries
- ☐ Battery organizer
- ☐ Battery bank
- ☐ Phone charging cables
- ☐ NOAA emergency radio
- ☐ Stored drinking water
- ☐ Collapsible water container
- ☐ Portable water filter
- ☐ Emergency food
- ☐ Manual can opener
- ☐ First aid kit
- ☐ Prescription medications
- ☐ Medication list
- ☐ Emergency blanket
- ☐ Extra clothing
- ☐ Heavy-duty trash bags
- ☐ Hand soap
- ☐ Wet wipes
- ☐ Toilet paper
- ☐ Important document copies
- ☐ Emergency cash in small bills
- ☐ Emergency contact list
- ☐ Pet food and pet water
- ☐ Vehicle fuel checked
- ☐ Supplies reviewed before storm season
Related Preparedness Guides
Final Takeaway
Power outages are common, but they do not have to become emergencies. With proper lighting, water, food, communication tools, backup power, first aid, and basic household supplies, your family can stay safer and more comfortable until electricity returns.