Power Outage Emergency Kit Checklist
A useful outage kit supports light, information, food and water access, basic first aid, charging and household-specific needs.
Core categories
- Flashlights and spare power
- Battery or hand-crank information source
- Water and shelf-stable food
- First-aid supplies and required personal items
- Charging options appropriate to your devices
Customize it
Add supplies for children, pets, older adults, disabilities, medications and local weather conditions.
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Flashlights buried in a garage cabinet are less useful when the lights fail at night. Keep immediate-use lighting accessible in bedrooms and common areas, then maintain a larger household kit in a known location. Avoid relying on a phone flashlight as the only light source because the phone may also be needed for alerts and communication.
Label batteries, cables and adapters so anyone in the household can use them. Test rechargeable items periodically and replace damaged or swollen batteries according to manufacturer and local disposal guidance.