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72-Hour Blackout Plan

GridReady Guide editorial team · Updated September 2026

Focus on immediate safety, information, lighting, water, food, medications and essential charging.

Before

Assemble supplies, know how to receive alerts, charge critical devices and understand household-specific medical or accessibility needs.

During

Confirm the outage scope, conserve batteries, protect refrigerated food and follow local instructions.

Keep reading: emergency kit and 7-day plan

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Updated: September 26, 2026

72-hour blackout plan: For the first three days, focus on safe lighting, information, drinking water, food temperature, essential medications, phone/radio power, sanitation and a safe way to prepare simple meals.

Before the outage

Charge phones, power banks and rechargeable lights.
Freeze water containers or gel packs and keep appliance thermometers in cold storage.
Store at least a three-day water supply; CDC recommends at least one gallon per person per day.
Keep several meals that require no refrigeration and little or no cooking.
Print important contacts and note where official local alerts are published.

0–6 hours: establish control

Confirm whether the outage is local to your property or wider. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Switch to LED lights rather than combustion lighting. Check household members with medical or accessibility needs and begin using stored battery power deliberately rather than leaving devices charging continuously.

6–24 hours: conserve and reassess

Decide which electrical loads still justify stored energy. If refrigeration is the main concern, remember that USDA's four-hour refrigerator guidance assumes the door stays closed. Use coolers and ice where appropriate rather than repeatedly opening the refrigerator to check food.

24–72 hours: shift to continuity

Water, sanitation, safe meals, communications and indoor temperature now deserve as much attention as electricity. Follow local official instructions, particularly for water safety, evacuation or warming/cooling centers.