Power Outage Preparedness Kits

When the power goes out, most people reach for their phone flashlight and hope it comes back on soon. A blackout survival kit replaces hope with a plan — lighting, communication, food, water and warmth so your household stays functional whether the outage lasts hours or days.

What is in a blackout survival kit?

• Battery-powered lanterns and LED flashlights
• Emergency radio — hand-crank or battery powered — for weather alerts and news
• Shelf-stable food and clean water
• Extra batteries and a portable phone charger
• Emergency blankets or sleeping bags for warmth
• Matches or lighters (use candles with caution)

How long do power outages typically last?

Most outages resolve within a few hours, but severe storms, ice events and infrastructure failures can knock power out for days or even weeks. FEMA recommends being prepared for at least 72 hours without electricity. If you live in an area with frequent outages, planning for a week or more is a smart move.

Related categories

• Backup Power
• Light & Communication
• Food & Water