Build a 72-hour blackout kit around needs, not fear
A short-duration kit is a useful baseline because it forces you to cover essentials without trying to prepare for every imaginable scenario.
Plan the essentials.
Power what matters.
Verify before buying.
Lighting and power
Pack accessible flashlights or headlamps, spare batteries appropriate for your devices, charged power banks and the cables/adapters you actually use.
Food and water
Choose shelf-stable food your household will realistically eat and follow local emergency guidance for water quantities and treatment. Keep a manual can opener if your food requires one.
Information and communication
Keep a paper list of important contacts, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio if appropriate, and a simple household meeting/communication plan.
Household-specific items
Add prescriptions, hygiene supplies, infant needs, pet supplies and accessibility items relevant to your household. People who depend on powered medical devices need a specific contingency plan.
Beyond 72 hours
Longer disruptions change the problem from a kit to a system: replenishment, temperature, refrigeration and backup power become more important.
Primary safety sources
Where our safety guidance comes from
Safety-sensitive claims on Outage Ready are grounded in public-health and emergency-preparedness guidance. Always follow current instructions from local authorities during an active emergency.