What's on a power outage prep checklist?
Updated August 2026
Outage prep is stocked, not done in the moment: keep flashlights, fresh batteries, drinking water at 1 gallon per person per day, and a way to charge phones, and know how to release and hand-open the garage door. Test your generator and transfer switch before storm season. Run any generator outdoors only, at least 20 feet from windows, and a closed fridge keeps food safe for about 4 hours (a full freezer 24 to 48).
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Flashlights, headlamps, and fresh batteries | Check twice a year | $30–60 |
| Water: 1 gallon per person per day, 3+ days | Rotate yearly | $20–40 |
| Power banks and a battery or crank radio | Charge quarterly | $40–100 |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Run the generator and check the transfer switch | Twice a year | $300–500 pro |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Fill tubs and jugs, set fridge and freezer coldest | Before it hits | 20 min · DIY |
| Charge every device and power bank | Before it hits | Ongoing |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Keep the fridge (4 hrs) and freezer (24–48 hrs) shut | Throughout | Ongoing |
| Run generators outdoors, 20+ ft from windows | Throughout | Safety |
What neglect costs
An outage turns costly through spoilage and water. A full fridge and freezer is $300–600 to restock, and it starts spoiling after about 4 hours (fridge) and 24 to 48 hours (freezer) once the doors stay shut. A basement served by a sump pump can flood within hours of losing power in a storm, a $10,000 to $30,000 cleanup, which is exactly why battery backups and generators exist. The deadliest cost is invisible: a portable generator run in a garage or near a window makes carbon monoxide that kills, so it is always outdoors and far from openings. Outages often arrive with winter storms, so keep the hard-freeze checklist ready for the same night.
Leave these to a pro
The pro line here is the backup power itself. A standby generator with an automatic transfer switch installs for $5,000–12,000 and needs a $300–500 annual service to be there when the grid drops; a portable unit ($500–1,500) plus a properly wired interlock or transfer switch (electrician, $500–1,500) is the budget path and the only safe way to feed household circuits. Never backfeed a generator into a wall outlet: it is illegal and can electrocute a lineman. A licensed electrician sizes and wires it correctly.
This whole checklist ships as reminders in OnOtto: every task above, on the right schedule for your home, snooze-proof.
Load this checklist as remindersFrequently asked questions
How long does food stay safe during an outage?
An unopened refrigerator holds a safe temperature for about 4 hours, and a full freezer for 24 to 48 hours (a half-full one closer to 24). The key is keeping the doors shut: every peek dumps cold air and shortens the window. Group freezer items together so they hold each other cold, and keep a few frozen jugs of water as thermal mass and emergency drinking water. When power returns, toss any perishable that sat above 40°F for more than two hours.
Can I run a portable generator in the garage?
No, never, even with the door open. A portable generator produces carbon monoxide at levels that can be lethal within minutes in a garage, breezeway, or basement, and CO poisoning is a leading cause of post-storm deaths. Run it outdoors on dry ground, at least 20 feet from any window, door, or vent, under a rain canopy made for generators. Install a battery-backed CO alarm on every level as a backstop, and stop the generator before refueling a hot engine.
How much water should I store for an outage?
Store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day, and keep a minimum of three days on hand, more if you are in an area prone to long outages or you rely on a well pump that stops without power. Half of that is for drinking and half for cooking and hygiene. Commercial bottled water stores cleanly for a year or more; if you fill your own containers, use food-grade jugs and rotate them yearly. Do not forget water for pets.
Portable or standby generator, which do I need?
It depends on how long and how often your power fails. A portable generator ($500–1,500) covers a fridge, a few lights, and phone charging during occasional short outages, and with an electrician-installed interlock it can safely feed select circuits. A standby generator ($5,000–12,000 installed) wires to the panel, starts automatically, and runs the whole house on natural gas or propane, which is worth it where outages are frequent, long, or you depend on a sump pump or medical equipment. Both need periodic testing to be reliable.