A power outage can last a few hours or a few days, and it’s much easier to handle when you already have the supplies you need in one place.
You don’t need expensive gadgets to prepare for a power outage. A good survival kit starts with basic essentials like lighting, a way to charge your phone, drinking water, ready-to-eat food, and safety supplies.
This list covers 24 power outage survival kit essentials, grouped by what they’re used for. If you’re on a budget, start with a flashlight, extra batteries, a power bank, drinking water, food that doesn’t need cooking, and a first aid kit. You can add the other supplies over time.
Lighting And Backup Power Essentials
1. LED Flashlight
A reliable flashlight makes it easier to move around your home, find things, and walk down dark hallways when the lights go out. Keep one in each bedroom and another in the kitchen so you don’t have to search for it in the dark.
2. Rechargeable Emergency Lantern
Unlike a flashlight that shines in one direction, a lantern can light up an entire room. It’s useful when you need to see while eating, reading, or spending time with your family. Choose a rechargeable lantern and make sure it’s fully charged before an outage.
3. Headlamp
A headlamp comes in handy when you need both hands free to prepare food, look for supplies, or handle small repairs in the dark. It’s also useful for reading in bed without disturbing anyone else.
4. LED Candles or Glow Sticks
Flameless LED candles and glow sticks provide soft lighting for bedrooms and other areas of your home without the fire risk of real candles. Emergency agencies recommend using flashlights, lanterns, and other battery-powered lights instead of candles during a power outage.
5. Extra Batteries
Keep spare batteries in the sizes your flashlights, lanterns, radios, and other emergency devices need. Store them in a cool, dry place, and check their expiration dates once or twice a year.
6. Portable Power Banks
Fully charged power banks can keep your phones and other small devices running when you can’t plug them into a wall outlet. Charge them before a storm or expected outage, and keep the right charging cables with them.
7. Portable Power Station or Solar Generator
A portable power station can provide backup electricity for certain devices and small appliances, depending on its capacity.
A solar charging option can also help you recharge it if the power outage lasts several days. It’s a useful extra, but not a must-have for every household. Consider buying one after you’ve covered the basics.
If you use a gas-powered generator instead, run it outdoors at least 20 feet away from windows, doors, and other openings.
Never use a gas generator inside your home or garage, even with the garage door open. It produces carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas that can be deadly. Battery-powered power stations don’t produce exhaust.
8. Battery-Powered or Hand-Crank Radio
A small emergency radio helps you stay informed about weather updates and important announcements when your internet or cell service isn’t working. Choose one with a hand crank or solar panel so you don’t have to rely on batteries alone.
Food And Water Supplies
9. Bottled Drinking Water
Store enough drinking water for everyone in your household, including children and pets. A common emergency preparedness guideline is to keep at least one gallon (about 3.8 liters) of water per person per day, with extra for cooking and hygiene.
10. Non-Perishable Food
Stock up on canned foods, crackers, cereal bars, peanut butter, dried fruit, nuts, and other foods that don’t need refrigeration or much preparation. Choose foods your family actually enjoys eating, since a power outage isn’t the best time to try something new.
11. Manual Can Opener
A manual can opener is easy to overlook until you have canned food but no electricity to operate an electric one. Keep it with your emergency supplies so you can find it easily when you need it.
12. Cooler and Ice Packs
A hard-sided insulated cooler with a tight-fitting lid can help keep perishable food cold if the power stays out long enough for your refrigerator to warm up.
Keep one handy with ice packs, or freeze containers of water ahead of time to use as ice. Make sure the cooler has enough ice to keep food at 40°F or below..
13. Refrigerator and Freezer Thermometer
A refrigerator and freezer thermometer helps you check whether your food has stayed at a safe temperature during a power outage, so you can tell if it’s still safe to eat. Keep one in each appliance and check the readings when the power comes back on.
Safety, First Aid, And Hygiene Essentials
14. First Aid Kit
Keep bandages, antiseptic wipes, gauze, medical tape, and other basic first aid supplies together in one easy-to-find place. Check the expiration dates regularly and replace anything that’s expired or running low.
15. Essential Medications
Keep an adequate supply of prescription medications and any other important medical items your household needs.
Make a plan for medicines that require refrigeration. If the outage lasts a day or longer, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether refrigerated medication is still safe to use.
16. Personal Hygiene Supplies
Pack toilet paper, sanitary products, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, and wet wipes in case your usual routines are disrupted. A few garbage bags are also useful for handling waste when normal services are affected.
17. Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizer is useful when you can’t easily wash your hands, especially before eating or after handling garbage. Keep a bottle with your emergency supplies for easy access.
18. Battery-Backed Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
These alarms help alert your household to fire or carbon monoxide dangers, especially if you’re using alternative power or heating equipment.
FEMA recommends having alarms with battery backup, if they’re hardwired, on every level of your home and near sleeping areas. Test them regularly to make sure they’re working properly.
19. Fire Extinguisher
Fire risks can increase during a power outage when people rely on alternative lighting, cooking, or heating methods.
Keep a home fire extinguisher near the kitchen or an exit, check its pressure gauge regularly, and make sure everyone in your household knows how to use it.
20. Surge Protector
A surge protector can help protect sensitive electronics from voltage spikes when electricity is restored.
It’s also a good idea to unplug appliances and electronics during an outage when appropriate, especially if you expect power to return suddenly.
Comfort And Other Useful Supplies
21. Blankets and Extra Bedding
Keep blankets, sleeping bags, or lightweight bedding available to help everyone stay comfortable if your home gets cold during an extended outage. Warm layers, hats, and socks can also help you stay cozy without relying on electric heating.
22. Battery-Powered Fan
If you live in a hot climate, a rechargeable or battery-powered fan can make a big difference when your regular fan or air conditioner stops working. It’s especially useful for keeping bedrooms more comfortable during a warm night.
23. Pet and Baby Supplies
If you have a baby or a pet, include the supplies they may need for several days. For a baby, this could mean formula or baby food, diapers, and wipes. For a pet, pack food, water, medications, waste bags, and a leash or carrier.
24. Emergency Cash and Important Documents
Keep some cash, emergency contact numbers, and copies of important documents in a waterproof pouch.
You may need cash if card payment systems or ATMs aren’t working. A paper copy of your contact list is also helpful if your phone battery dies.
How To Prepare Your Home For A Power Outage
A few simple steps before the lights go out can make a big difference. Here’s what you can do to get your home ready:
- Charge your devices. Fully charge your phones, power banks, and rechargeable lights when a storm or power outage is in the forecast.
- Keep supplies in one accessible location. A storage bin or closet shelf works well. Make sure everyone in the household knows where to find the supplies, even in the dark.
- Know how to open electric gates and garage doors manually. Find the manual release and practice using it once so you’re not trying to figure it out during an outage.
- Know what to unplug. Unplug sensitive electronics and appliances during an outage to help protect them from voltage surges when the power returns.
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. This helps preserve cold temperatures for as long as possible.
- Make a plan for medical equipment. If anyone in your household relies on electricity-powered medical equipment, talk to their doctor about a backup plan. You should also notify your utility company.
- Keep your car’s gas tank at least half full. Gas stations may close during an outage. You may also need to travel to a warmer or cooler location or use your car to charge a phone outdoors.
What To Do During A Power Outage
Knowing what to do when the electricity goes out can help you stay safe and make your supplies last longer.
In The First Hour
- Check whether the outage is limited to your home. Look at your breaker panel and see if your neighbors have electricity.
- Report the outage to your utility company through its website or by phone.
- Use flashlights and battery-powered lights instead of candles.
- Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed.
- Unplug sensitive electronics and leave one light switched on so you’ll know when the power comes back.
If The Power Outage Lasts Longer
- Conserve your phone battery. Turn on low-power mode, dim the screen, and send text messages instead of making long calls.
- Use your refrigerated food first. Eat food from the refrigerator first, then the freezer, and save your non-perishable supplies for later.
- Stay cool or warm safely. If it’s hot, move to the coolest part of your home, drink plenty of water, and wear lightweight clothing. If it’s cold, close off unused rooms and dress in warm layers.
- Avoid unsafe heating methods. Never use a gas stove, oven, grill, or camping stove to heat your home. Never run a generator indoors or in a garage. These can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Stay away from downed power lines. Keep your distance and report them to the appropriate authorities.
- Check on your neighbors. If it’s safe to do so, check on older adults and people with medical needs who may need help.
- Find a safer place if necessary. If your home becomes dangerously hot or cold, or someone depends on medical equipment, consider going to a friend’s home, a cooling or warming center, or a shelter.
Power Outage Survival Kit Checklist
Download and print this checklist to keep track of the supplies you already have and the ones you still need to buy. You can also save it to your phone or share it with family and friends to help them prepare for a power outage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should be in a power outage survival kit?
A good power outage survival kit should include lighting supplies such as flashlights, a lantern, and spare batteries, along with a way to charge your phone, drinking water, ready-to-eat food, and a manual can opener.
You’ll also need a first aid kit, essential medications, hygiene supplies, and basic safety items such as smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Blankets, emergency cash, and copies of important documents are useful additions, too.
How long should emergency supplies last?
FEMA’s Ready.gov recommends gathering supplies that can last for several days. The American Red Cross suggests building up to two weeks of food and water if you can.
If that feels like too much, start with enough supplies for three days and add more over time. Remember to plan for every person and pet in your household.
What food should you keep at home during a power outage?
Choose shelf-stable foods that don’t need cooking, such as canned beans, tuna, peanut butter, crackers, cereal bars, nuts, dried fruit, and shelf-stable milk. Include baby food or formula and pet food if needed. Don’t forget to keep a manual can opener with your supplies.
How do you keep food cold when the electricity goes out?
Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. A refrigerator can keep food cold for about four hours, while a full freezer can maintain a safe temperature for about 48 hours (or about 24 hours if it’s half full).
Transferring food to a cooler with ice or ice packs can help keep it cold for longer. Use a food thermometer to check food temperatures. Throw away perishable food that has been above 40°F for more than four hours. When in doubt, throw it out.
How can you keep your phone charged during a blackout?
Charge your phone and power banks before the outage, and turn on low-power mode to conserve battery life. Close apps you don’t need, dim your screen, and send text messages instead of making long calls.
If your phone battery runs low, you may be tempted to charge it using your car. If you do, run the engine outdoors and away from garages, windows, and doors.
Never run the engine in a garage, even with the door open, because car exhaust contains carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas that can be deadly. A solar charger or portable power station can also come in handy during a longer outage.
How do you stay cool when the power goes out?
Stay in the coolest part of your home, drink plenty of water, and wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. You can also cool your skin with a damp cloth, avoid heavy activity, and use a battery-powered fan.
If the temperature becomes dangerously high, move to an air-conditioned place such as a library, mall, or cooling center. Check on older adults, children, and pets, too.
How often should you check your emergency kit?
Check your emergency kit at least twice a year and before storm season or any expected severe weather. Replace old batteries, rotate your food and water supplies, check the expiration dates on medications and first aid supplies, and make sure your flashlights and radio are still working.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a perfect survival kit to handle a power outage. Start with the basics, keep everything in one place, and add more supplies as you can. When the lights go out, you’ll be glad you took the time to prepare.
Sources:
- American Red Cross: Power Outage Safety
- Ready.gov: Be Prepared for a Power Outage (FEMA)
- FoodSafety.gov: Food Safety in a Disaster or Emergency
Jennifer is a relationship coach with a bachelor's degree in Foreign Languages and Literary Studies and over 10 years of blogging experience. Since 2016, she has been creating thoughtful, easy-to-read content on relationships, self-improvement, and everyday living, with a focus on helping readers make informed decisions and build healthier, more fulfilling lives. She enjoys cooking, reading, meditating, watching TV, and spending quality time with her husband and two adorable daughters.