A useful power outage plan identifies what must keep working, how long your backup can support it and what you will do when that support is no longer enough.
Buying equipment is only part of preparation. Everyone responsible for the household should know where supplies are stored, how approved equipment operates and when to seek help or move somewhere safer.
Use this checklist before an outage, during the interruption and after power returns.
Start with a one-page household plan
Write down these details and keep a printed copy:
| Planning item | Your entry |
|---|---|
| Utility outage-reporting number | _____ |
| Building management contact, if applicable | _____ |
| Household emergency contact | _____ |
| Equipment supplier or installer | _____ |
| Essential devices and services | _____ |
| Backup equipment and supported loads | _____ |
| Expected runtime and assumptions | _____ |
| Alternative charging or power location | _____ |
| Alternative place to stay | _____ |
| Person responsible for each task | _____ |
Keep operating instructions accessible without internet service.
If you have not selected equipment, compare home backup power options before deciding what belongs in your plan.
Before an outage: identify essential loads
Separate your appliances into three groups.
Essential: equipment needed for immediate household priorities.
Useful: devices you would like to operate if energy remains available.
Deferrable: loads that can wait until normal power returns.
Do not assume every household needs the same list. A home with a well pump or medically necessary equipment has different requirements from one mainly concerned with lighting and communications.
Use our backup power sizing guide to record running demand, starting requirements and energy use.
Make a separate plan for medically necessary equipment
Ask the equipment provider and care team about approved backup arrangements, expected endurance and what to do if power fails.
Keep their contact information and any device-specific instructions with your household plan. Do not rely on an untested consumer power station as the sole provision for essential medical needs.
For temperature-sensitive medicines, obtain storage instructions from the pharmacist or manufacturer before an outage.
Before an outage: check backup readiness
Follow the manufacturer’s inspection and test procedure.
- Confirm the intended equipment is charged or otherwise ready.
- Check for unresolved alerts or visible damage.
- Verify which outlets or circuits receive backup.
- Confirm that the selected appliances are supported.
- Record realistic runtime under the planned load.
- Identify the approved recharge or refueling arrangement.
- Keep required accessories together.
- Make sure another responsible adult understands the operating instructions.
A glowing indicator does not establish that every planned appliance will work.
Our battery backup runtime guide explains why usable energy and actual demand matter.
Before an outage: assemble accessible supplies
Prepare supplies around the household’s needs and local emergency guidance.
Useful items include:
- Flashlights or rechargeable lights.
- Compatible spare batteries and charging cables.
- Charged phones and suitable power banks.
- A battery-powered radio, where useful.
- Drinking water and food that does not require powered preparation.
- A manual can opener.
- Appliance thermometers.
- A cooler and a plan for obtaining ice.
- Printed contacts, instructions and essential records.
Choose battery lighting instead of relying on candles. Check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms according to their instructions.
Keep exits and access routes clear, including when setting out backup equipment and cables.
Before an outage: protect communications
Identify every powered device required for your home connection.
Depending on the installation, that may include a modem, router, separate fiber ONT and necessary network equipment.
Test the approved backup arrangement in advance. Also prepare an alternative way to obtain updates if the provider’s network fails.
Our router and modem backup guide explains why keeping Wi-Fi powered does not guarantee internet access.
Record a family check-in method and avoid making all communication depend on one device.
Before an outage: plan refrigeration
Keep appliance thermometers available and prepare a cooling alternative before the refrigerator becomes warm.
FoodSafety.gov advises that a refrigerator can keep food safe for up to four hours during an outage when the door remains closed. A closed full freezer holds a safe temperature for approximately 48 hours, or 24 hours when half full.
These are planning estimates. Use official food-specific guidance when deciding what to keep or discard; never taste food to test its safety.
See our refrigerator and freezer backup guide for appliance sizing and runtime planning.
If you plan to use a generator
Resolve placement and connection arrangements before an outage.
CPSC advises operating portable combustion generators outdoors, at least 20 feet from homes and buildings, with exhaust directed away from windows, doors and vents.
Never operate one in a home, garage, basement or shed, even with doors open. Follow its weather instructions, and shut it down and let it cool before refueling as directed by the manufacturer.
Never supply household wiring through a wall outlet.
Read our generator safety guide and keep the exact equipment instructions available.
If your property cannot support safe generator operation, choose another arrangement. Our battery backup versus generator comparison explains the practical differences.
When the power goes out
1. Check for immediate hazards
Stay away from downed lines and damaged electrical equipment. Report hazards to the utility or emergency services as appropriate.
If you smell gas, leave without operating electrical switches and contact the gas emergency service from a safe location.
If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, get outside immediately and call 911.
Do not touch wet electrical equipment or enter water that may be energized.
2. Establish what has lost power
Use utility updates and normal external observations to determine whether the interruption affects the wider area.
If only part of the home has lost power, do not assume it is an ordinary utility outage. Avoid opening electrical panels or repeatedly resetting protection.
3. Follow the documented backup procedure
Start or enable only the equipment and operating mode covered by your plan.
Keep loads within the approved limits. Record the outage start time and the initial battery or fuel status.
4. Preserve cooling and communication
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Use phones efficiently and keep essential updates available.
During the outage: manage energy deliberately
Check whether the outage is lasting longer than the period your plan covers.
Review:
- Remaining usable energy or fuel.
- Actual connected loads.
- Whether charging is available.
- Food temperatures.
- Indoor conditions.
- Essential equipment requirements.
- Updated utility information.
Turn off optional loads using their normal controls when appropriate. Do not disable equipment necessary for safety or medical needs.
A system that supports a few hours of lighting may not support prolonged heating, cooling or refrigeration.
Decide when to move to your alternative location
Set decision points in advance.
Examples include:
- Essential equipment cannot be supported for the required period.
- Indoor conditions are becoming unsafe.
- Your approved recharge or fuel arrangement is unavailable.
- Building access or essential services have failed.
- Authorities advise evacuation.
Do not wait until the last battery is depleted to arrange transport or contact someone who can help.
For renters and residents of shared buildings, our apartment backup power guide covers building-specific planning questions.
After power returns
Follow the equipment’s documented return-to-normal procedure.
Confirm that:
- Backup equipment has returned to its intended mode.
- Charging resumes correctly.
- Appliances operate normally.
- No warning or protection event remains unresolved.
- Damaged or wet equipment stays out of use pending assessment.
Do not alter transfer equipment or improvise a reconnection sequence.
Check food before keeping it
Power restoration does not reverse unsafe temperature exposure.
Use the FoodSafety.gov refrigerator and freezer charts to evaluate items. Some frozen food can be refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40°F (4°C) or below, but food-specific exceptions apply.
When safety cannot be established, discard the affected food.
Replenish and improve the plan
After the event, record what happened:
| Review question | Notes |
|---|---|
| How long did the outage last? | _____ |
| Which loads were actually supported? | _____ |
| Did runtime match expectations? | _____ |
| Did any device fail to start or transfer? | _____ |
| Was charging or fuel access adequate? | _____ |
| Were instructions easy to find? | _____ |
| What needs repair, replacement or clarification? | _____ |
Recharge equipment according to its instructions, replace consumed supplies and resolve faults before considering the system ready again.
A useful improvement may be a clearer checklist or a smaller load requirement rather than a larger battery.
Quick household checklist
Before
- Essential loads and runtime documented.
- Medical and medicine-storage requirements addressed.
- Backup equipment checked using approved procedures.
- Communications alternative prepared.
- Lights, water, food and cooling supplies accessible.
- Alarms checked.
- Safe alternative location and transport plan identified.
During
- Immediate hazards checked from a safe position.
- Outage reported or utility status reviewed.
- Backup operated within documented limits.
- Refrigerator and freezer doors kept closed.
- Remaining energy and household conditions reviewed.
- Alternative plan used before essential support runs out.
After
- Normal operation restored using the approved procedure.
- Food assessed using official guidance.
- Wet or damaged equipment kept out of use.
- Batteries recharged and supplies replenished.
- Faults and lessons recorded.
Frequently asked questions
How much backup power should I prepare?
Start with your essential loads and the period you want to cover. Then plan what happens if the outage lasts longer.
Should I buy backup equipment before making a load list?
Prepare the list first. It helps establish output, runtime and connection requirements before you spend money.
Does a building generator guarantee power inside my apartment?
No. Ask management which services and circuits it supports.
Can I use a generator indoors briefly?
No. Portable combustion generators must operate in a suitable outdoor location. Open doors and windows do not make indoor use safe.
Is food safe once the refrigerator gets cold again?
Not necessarily. Assess its temperature history using official food-safety guidance.
Sources and further reading
This checklist provides general preparation information. Follow local emergency instructions, equipment documentation and professional advice for electrical installations and medically necessary equipment.