The power went out. What do I actually need?
Start with the few things that solve the biggest problems. The detailed explanations come later.
The first power-related things worth having
LuminAID PackLite Max 2-in-1
Packs flat, lights a room, recharges by USB or solar, floats, and can provide an emergency phone top-up. It belongs here because it solves both lighting and a small power problem.
Buy PackLite Max →Anker Nano Power Bank A1259
A compact 10,000mAh USB-C bank with a built-in cable. Good for keeping a phone alive without buying a power station.
See Anker Nano on Amazon →Midland ER310PRO
NOAA alerts, 10,000mAh battery, USB-C charging, hand crank, solar backup and phone charging give you another information and power path.
See ER310PRO on Amazon →AcuRite 00515M Wireless Fridge + Freezer Thermometer
Separate wireless sensors monitor the refrigerator and freezer while the display stays outside, so you can check both temperatures without opening either door. Programmable alarms warn you when temperatures move outside the range you set.
See AcuRite on Amazon →Kidde COP with AA backup
Plug-in CO alarm with AA battery backup so detection continues when utility power fails.
See Kidde COP →As an Amazon Associate, LivSolv earns from qualifying purchases at no added cost to you.
For Wi-Fi, laptops, refrigerators or freezers, move up to equipment sized for the actual load.
Phones + Wi-Fi + laptop power →Fridge + freezer backup →Generator options →Do these free things first
Light: gather every flashlight, headlamp, lantern and spare battery already in the house.
Phones: use Low Power Mode, lower brightness and stop unnecessary streaming or scrolling.
Food: keep refrigerator and freezer doors shut. Group frozen food together.
Water: if the outage may affect a well pump or local water service, fill clean food-safe containers while water is still available.
Temperature: gather blankets and warm clothing in cold weather. In heat, block direct sun and move to a cooled safe location if conditions become dangerous.
Information: write important numbers on paper, save useful information offline and locate any battery radio you already own.
Cooking: choose no-cook food first. Never move outdoor fuel-burning cooking equipment indoors.
Food safety clock
Refrigerator
An unopened refrigerator generally keeps food safely cold for about 4 hours.
Freezer
A full unopened freezer can hold temperature for about 48 hours. A half-full freezer is closer to 24 hours.
Go straight to the Power section to compare practical ways to run a refrigerator or freezer during an outage, including batteries, solar, generators and other backup paths.
See fridge + freezer backup options →Go to Power →Phones and internet are down too?
You need a separate information path, a way to reach your own people, and important information that still exists when the network does not.
Build the communication layer →Download offline maps →