Home/Power Outage
Scenario

Power Outage

The most common emergency you'll face. Grid failures are increasing every year — aging infrastructure, extreme weather, cyberattacks. After 48 hours without preparation, most households start to unravel. The difference between discomfort and crisis is a short list of gear and a plan you made before the lights went out.

1.3
Significant outages per US household / year
4 hrs
Before refrigerated food begins spoiling
8–72 hrs
Cell tower backup battery life
24–72 hrs
Before municipal water pressure fails
Get Ready
  • Power bank (10,000+ mAh) Keep phones charged for calls, maps, and emergency alerts
  • LED flashlights + headlamps One headlamp per person, one lantern per room in use
  • Battery stock (AA, AAA, D-cell) Match to your lights and radio. Two full sets minimum
  • Hand-crank emergency radio NOAA weather alerts when cell towers die. Zero dependencies
  • Cash (small bills) ATMs and card readers go down with the grid
  • Bottled water 1 gallon per person per day. Minimum 3-day supply
  • No-cook food Granola bars, canned goods, peanut butter. Nothing that needs a fridge or stove
  • Daily medications (7-day supply) Pharmacies may be closed. Rotate stock quarterly
  • Car fuel above half tank Gas pumps need electricity. Fill up before, not during
  • Portable power station (500–1,000Wh) Run a mini fridge, charge devices, power lights for 12-24 hours per charge
  • Solar panel (100–200W foldable) Pair with power station. Sun charges battery, battery powers gear
  • Generator (dual-fuel preferred) Heavy loads: fridge, freezer, sump pump. 3,000–5,000W covers most households
  • Camp stove + fuel canisters Cook when the electric stove is dead. Butane or propane, outdoor use only
  • Water filtration Gravity-fed filter for when municipal pressure drops to zero
  • Cooler + ice strategy Buy ice immediately when power drops. Move perishables to cooler within 4 hours
  • Freeze-dried meals Just add boiled water. 25-year shelf life. 2,000 cal/person/day target
  • Fuel storage + stabilizer Treated gasoline lasts 24 months. Store at least one full generator tank
  • Full solar setup Panel + station as a daily cycle. Charge by day, draw at night
  • Gravity water filter Process any water source without electricity. Berkey, ProOne, or similar
  • Long-term food supply Bulk rice, beans, canned protein. 30+ day target per person
  • Security basics Battery motion lights, reinforced doors, neighbourhood communication plan
  • Barter goods Batteries, lighters, coffee, medicine. Small, universal, storable
What to Own — Deep Dive

Rechargeable battery units with AC outlets, USB, and DC outputs. Silent, no exhaust, indoor safe. The default backup for apartments and anyone who wants clean, quiet power.

Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion / NMC)
Most Common
500-800 cycle life. Lightest per Wh, cheapest entry. Good for occasional emergency use and standby.
500-800 cycle life Lightest per Wh Price: lowest entry
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4)
Longest Lifespan
2,500-3,500+ cycles. Heavier and more expensive upfront, but buy once and use for a decade. More thermally stable.
2,500-3,500+ cycle life Durability: exceptional Price: higher upfront
Solar Generators (Station + Panel Kits)
Self-Sustaining
Power station bundled with solar panels. Renewable loop: sun charges battery, battery powers gear. Weather dependent — best as complementary charging, not sole source.
Renewable charging Best use: extended outages Weather dependent
What to own
  • Power station, 500–1,000Wh Mini fridge + phones + lights for 12-24h. LFP worth the premium for regular use
  • Compatible foldable solar panel Paired with station for self-sustaining loop. Aim for 100-200W output
  • Second, smaller unit (200-300Wh) For travel or go-bag. Main station too heavy to move fast

Convert sunlight to electricity for charging power stations and batteries. Portable foldable panels are the practical choice for emergencies — deploy anywhere outdoors.

Monocrystalline Panels
Best Efficiency
20-23% efficiency. Best output per surface area, performs well in partial shade. The clear choice for portable use.
20-23% efficiency Best use: portable, max output Price: mid-high
Polycrystalline Panels
Budget Option
15-18% efficiency, cheaper, heavier per watt. Better for fixed installations where space isn't critical. Monocrystalline wins for portable use.
15-18% efficiency Price: lowest Best use: fixed installations
Flexible / Thin-Film Panels
Ultralight
10-16% efficiency, bendable, ultralight. For vehicle roofs or curved surfaces. Lower output and durability than crystalline types.
10-16% efficiency Best use: curved surfaces, vehicles Flexible form factor
What to own
  • Foldable monocrystalline, 100-200W Match to your power station. Check compatible panel specs
  • MC4 or DC5525 adapter cables Often not included. Check your station's input port
  • Flexible thin-film panel (optional) Only if you have a vehicle with curved roof space

Combustion engines converting fuel to electricity. Significantly more sustained power than battery stations — enough for major appliances. Loud, outdoor use only, fuel dependent.

Inverter Generators (Gasoline)
Quiet + Clean Power
Clean sine-wave power safe for electronics. 48-58 dB, 1-3kW output. Adjusts engine speed to load, saving fuel.
48-58 dB noise Safe for electronics Price: highest
Conventional Generators (Gasoline)
Raw Power, Low Cost
Constant speed, louder, less fuel-efficient. But 3,000-10,000W+ output. The tool for running fridge, freezer, and sump pump simultaneously.
3,000-10,000W+ output 65-75 dB noise Price: lowest per watt
Dual-Fuel (Gasoline + Propane)
Fuel Flexibility
Gasoline goes stale in 3-6 months. Propane stores indefinitely. ~10-15% output drop on propane, but fuel flexibility is the point.
Gas + propane Propane stores indefinitely Best use: extended outages
Propane-Only Generators
Clean Burning
No stale fuel, no carburetors to clean. Fewer consumer options and slightly higher fuel consumption. Best if you already have a propane tank on property.
No fuel degradation Maintenance: minimal Fewer consumer models
What to own
  • Dual-fuel or inverter generator Size to your load. Most homes: 3,000-5,000W
  • Fuel stabilizer Untreated gas stales in 3-6 months. Stabilizer extends to 24
  • Approved fuel cans (5-10 gal) Full tank minimum at all times. Rotate every 12-18 months
  • Heavy-gauge extension cords Standard cords overheat under generator loads — fire risk
  • Transfer switch / interlock kit Required for safe home panel connection. Licensed electrician install

Portable batteries for charging phones and small electronics via USB. The most accessible form of backup power — small, cheap, and the first thing that keeps communication alive.

Pocket / EDC Power Banks
5,000-10,000 mAh
1-2 phone charges, pocket-sized. The one you have on you when it happens, not the one in a drawer. $15-50.
1-3 phone charges Best use: daily carry Price: $15-50
High-Capacity Power Banks
20,000-30,000 mAh
5-7 phone charges or a laptop. 100W+ USB-C PD models charge MacBooks at full speed. Right choice for go-bags and multi-day outages.
5-7 phone charges Best use: go-bags, laptops Price: $50-120
Solar Power Banks
Self-Charging
Standard bank with a small built-in solar panel. 5-10W input, full solar charge takes 20-40+ hours. A last-resort trickle, not a primary charging method.
5-10W solar input Solar: last-resort trickle Best as: bank + solar backup
What to own
  • Pocket bank, 10,000mAh, always carried In your bag, not on a shelf. First line of defense
  • High-capacity with USB-C PD, in go-bag Laptop + several phone charges. Real multi-day staying power
  • Multi-cable kit (USB-C, Lightning, Micro-USB) A bank with no matching cable is useless
  • One pocket bank per household member Everyone needs a charged phone. Sharing is not a plan

Light is the first thing you notice when power goes out, and the easiest to solve. Battery, USB, and fuel-based options cover every scenario.

Battery / USB Lanterns
Most Practical
50-200+ hours on low mode. USB-rechargeable models pair with power banks or stations. Multiple brightness modes, hanging hook for hands-free use.
50-200+ hrs runtime USB-C rechargeable options Room-filling light
Fuel Lanterns (Oil / Candle)
No Electricity Needed
No batteries, no charging. Lamp oil stores for years, candles indefinitely. Ventilation and fire safety required. Dietz hurricane lantern is the classic choice.
7-12 hrs per fill Fuel stores for years Ventilation required
Headlamps + Flashlights
Hands-Free / Focused
Hands-free task lighting. 300-800+ lumens, red light mode preserves night vision. USB-rechargeable. A lantern + headlamp covers all lighting needs.
100-800+ lumens USB-C rechargeable Red mode preserves night vision
What to own
  • LED lantern, 300+ lm, per main room Hanging hook, battery or USB. This lights the room
  • Hurricane oil lantern + lamp oil Zero tech backup. No batteries, no charging
  • Headlamp per person, with red-light mode Hands-free is essential. One per person, always charged
  • Spare batteries (AA, D-cell) Match to your lanterns. Two full sets. Rotate every 2-3 years
  • Glow sticks (approx. 12) Mark exits in total darkness without draining a lantern

The small items that fill gaps between major power sources. Stormproof matches, EDC flashlights, hand-crank chargers, battery stock. Individually minor, collectively critical.

Fire Starters
Fundamental
Redundancy is key: stormproof matches, ferro rods (3,000°F sparks, works wet), and windproof arc lighters. At $5-15 each, have all three.
Multiple methods recommended Waterproof options Price: $5-30
EDC Flashlights
Every Day Carry
Pen-sized, 200-500 lumens, USB-rechargeable. The point is having a light on you at all times — in your pocket, not in a kit.
200-500 lumens USB-C rechargeable Pocket-clip design
Hand-Crank Chargers
Last Resort
10 minutes cranking = ~1-3% phone battery. Slow, but zero dependencies. Emergency crank radios with AM/FM/NOAA + flashlight + USB are the most practical form.
1-3% per 10 min No dependencies Best use: last resort
Battery Supply (AA, AAA, D-cell)
Stock Up
Most emergency gear runs on AA/AAA. Alkaline: 10-year shelf life, cheap in bulk. NiMH rechargeable: 2-5 years stored charge, better long-term value.
AA, AAA, D-cell cover most gear Alkaline: 10-year shelf life NiMH: 2-5 yrs stored
What to own
  • Stormproof matches (2+ boxes) Burns in rain and wind. Store in waterproof container
  • Ferrocerium rod with striker 3,000°F sparks, any weather, lasts thousands of strikes
  • Windproof arc lighter (1-2) USB-C rechargeable. Works in conditions that kill flame lighters
  • EDC flashlight, pocket-clip 200+ lumens. Always clipped, always on you
  • Hand-crank emergency radio with USB NOAA alerts with no power source. Last-resort phone charge
  • Battery stock (AA, AAA, D-cell) Match to your gear. NiMH for long-term, alkaline for rotation
Essential Reading
Lights Out cover
Lights Out: A Cyberattack, A Nation Unprepared
Ted Koppel
Amazon
The Grid cover
The Grid: The Fraying Wires Between Americans and Our Energy Future
Gretchen Bakke
Amazon
When Technology Fails cover
When Technology Fails: A Manual for Self-Reliance
Matthew Stein
Amazon
Prepper's Total Grid Failure Handbook cover
Prepper's Total Grid Failure Handbook
Alan and Arlene Fiebig
Amazon