In short: Ready.gov advises keeping a flashlight for every household member, backup power for anything that needs electricity, nonperishable food and water, and battery-backup carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home. During an outage, keep the refrigerator and freezer closed: food stays safe about 4 hours in the fridge, 48 hours in a full freezer and 24 hours in a half-full one. Only run a generator outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and vents, never in a home or garage.
Key facts
- A closed refrigerator keeps food safe for about 4 hours. A full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours, or about 24 hours if half full. Source
- The FDA says to discard refrigerated perishables such as meat, poultry, seafood, milk, eggs and leftovers that have been above 40°F for 4 hours or more. Source
- CPSC says never run a portable generator in homes, garages, basements, crawlspaces or sheds, even with doors or windows open, and to run it outdoors at least 20 feet from homes with exhaust pointed away from windows, doors and vents. Source
- Ready.gov recommends carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup on every level of your home. Source
- For suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, CDC says to call 911 or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Source
Want this written down for your home? Household Emergency Plan — US edition — printable, $7.99.
Most power outages in the US are short, but storms, heat waves and winter weather can leave homes without electricity for days. If recent news about grid strain or severe weather has you thinking about it, the useful response is a small kit and a simple plan. This page pulls together what Ready.gov, CDC, FDA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) advise, so your household can be prepared, not panicked.
What should be in a power outage survival kit?
A power outage kit is mostly light, information, cold storage and a few days of food and water. Ready.gov's general Build a Kit list recommends one gallon of water per person per day for several days, a several-day supply of nonperishable food, a flashlight with extra batteries, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio (plus a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert), a first aid kit, a manual can opener, and a cell phone with chargers and a backup battery.
For outages specifically, Ready.gov adds:
- A flashlight for every household member. CDC advises battery-powered flashlights rather than candles, and keeping a fire extinguisher on hand.
- Backup power for anything that needs electricity, such as a portable charger or power bank.
- Carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup on every level of your home.
- Nonperishable food and water on hand.
We have not tested any products, so we don't recommend brands. Generic types are fine: an LED flashlight or headlamp, a hand-crank or battery radio, a power bank sized for your phone, and a cooler with ice packs.
Power outage kit checklist
- Flashlight or headlamp for each person, plus spare batteries
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio; NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
- Phone power bank(s) and charging cables; car charger
- Water: one gallon per person per day for several days
- Nonperishable food that needs no cooking, and a manual can opener
- Cooler and frozen gel packs or containers of frozen water
- Appliance thermometers for the refrigerator and freezer
- Battery-backup carbon monoxide detector on every level of the home
- First aid kit, prescription medications and a written medication list
- Spare batteries for hearing aids and any battery-powered medical devices
- Blankets or sleeping bags, and warm layers
- Fire extinguisher
- Some cash in small bills
- Your utility's outage reporting number and outage map link, written down
- Printed list of emergency contacts
For a full home kit, see our US 72-hour kit checklist.
How do I make an emergency plan for a power outage?
Ready.gov suggests starting with a list of everything in your home that needs electricity, then planning batteries or another backup for the items that matter most. Then decide:
- Who needs power most. Anyone using electric medical equipment or refrigerated medicine comes first (see below).
- Where you'll go if it gets too hot or cold. Ready.gov says to learn where heating and cooling locations open near you, and to go to a community location with power if heat or cold is extreme.
- How you'll get news. Charge phones when severe weather is forecast and keep a radio ready.
- How you'll stay in touch. Check whether your home phone works without power and how long its battery backup lasts.
- Who checks on whom. Agree which neighbors or relatives you'll call.
Write this down with the rest of your family emergency plan.
What to do during a power outage
Ready.gov's core steps:
- Keep the refrigerator and freezer closed.
- Unplug appliances and electronics to protect them from surges when power comes back.
- Never use a gas stove or oven to heat your home. CDC also says never to use a charcoal grill, hibachi, lantern or camping stove indoors, and never run a vehicle engine in a garage.
- Go somewhere with power if heat or cold becomes extreme.
CDC warns that fans alone may not prevent heat-related illness when temperatures are very high, and that hypothermia is a medical emergency: get medical help immediately if someone's temperature is below 95°F.
How long does food last in a power outage?
Federal food-safety guidance from CDC and FDA agrees on the core times, provided the doors stay closed:
| Appliance | Keeps food safe for about |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator (closed) | 4 hours |
| Full freezer | 48 hours |
| Half-full freezer | 24 hours |
What the agencies advise:
- Before an outage: keep the fridge at or below 40°F and the freezer at or below 0°F, and use appliance thermometers to check. FDA suggests freezing containers of water and gel packs, grouping food together in the freezer, having coolers ready, and knowing where to buy dry or block ice locally.
- After 4 hours without power: CDC says to move refrigerated perishables into a cooler packed with ice or frozen gel packs, keeping them at 40°F or below.
- When power returns: throw out refrigerated perishables (meat, poultry, seafood, milk, eggs, leftovers) that have been above 40°F for 4 hours or more. Frozen food that still has ice crystals or is at 40°F or below can be refrozen or cooked.
- Never taste food to check it. CDC's rule: "When in doubt, throw it out."
Generator and carbon monoxide safety
Carbon monoxide (CO) is colorless and odorless. CPSC says portable generators are a leading cause of carbon monoxide deaths after storms, and that CO from generators can be lethal even with doors or windows open. Its 2026 guidance:
- Never run a generator in a home, garage, basement, crawlspace, shed or other enclosed area.
- Run it outdoors only, at least 20 feet from homes and buildings, with the exhaust pointed away from windows, doors and vents.
- Look for generators with a CO shut-off feature, which turns the unit off when CO builds up nearby.
- Fit battery-operated or battery-backup CO and smoke alarms on every level and outside sleeping areas, and test them monthly.
- If a CO alarm sounds, get outside immediately, then call 911.
Ready.gov adds: keep the generator dry, connect appliances with heavy-duty extension cords, let it cool before refueling, and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Do not connect a portable generator to your home's wiring yourself: CDC says not to connect one to home circuits without approved automatic-interrupt devices, because it creates a fire hazard and endangers utility line workers. That's a job for a licensed electrician.
CDC lists CO symptoms as headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion, often described as "flu-like." People who are asleep may die before they notice symptoms. For suspected poisoning, call 911 or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
What if someone at home depends on medical devices?
A power outage can be life-threatening for people who rely on electric medical equipment. Federal guidance:
- Talk to your medical provider about a power outage plan for powered devices and refrigerated medicines, and ask how long medications can be kept at higher temperatures (Ready.gov).
- Check device compatibility. CDC suggests reading the manual or contacting the manufacturer to find out whether a device can run on batteries or a generator, and making a power plan for equipment such as breathing machines, power wheelchairs and scooters, nebulizers, oxygen and home dialysis equipment (CDC fact sheet).
- Tell local services. CDC advises contacting your local fire department and your power and water companies if you use electric-powered medical equipment.
- Have manual backups where possible, such as a manual wheelchair or walker as a backup for an electric scooter.
- Refrigerated medicine: if the power has been out for more than a day, Ready.gov says to discard it unless the label says otherwise and contact your doctor or pharmacist right away.
Reporting an outage and staying safe around power lines
Restoring power is your electric utility's job, so look up its outage reporting number and outage map now, and save them in your phone and on paper.
For downed lines, CDC says never touch a fallen power line, call the power company to report it, and don't drive through standing water if downed lines are in it. The National Weather Service advises treating every fallen line as live and staying clear of anything touching it; if it is an immediate danger, call 911.
After the power comes back
- Check food and throw out anything that was too warm for too long, or that looks, smells or feels wrong.
- Check refrigerated medications, as above.
- If wiring or appliances got wet, CDC says not to restore power until a qualified electrician has inspected them.
- Restock your kit: batteries, water and anything you used.
Live somewhere with hurricanes? See our hurricane preparedness guide, or start from the US preparedness hub.
Limitations
This page is general information, not professional, medical or electrical advice. Follow instructions from your utility, local officials and emergency managers, and call 911 in an emergency. Guidance and local resources such as cooling and warming centers vary by state, county and utility.
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Frequently asked questions
What should be in a power outage survival kit?
At minimum: a flashlight for each person with spare batteries, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, a phone power bank, water (Ready.gov suggests one gallon per person per day), nonperishable food, a manual can opener, a first aid kit, medications and a cooler with ice packs. Add battery-backup carbon monoxide detectors if you don't have them.
How long does food last in the fridge during a power outage?
About 4 hours if the door stays closed. A full freezer keeps food safe for about 48 hours and a half-full freezer for about 24 hours. Throw out refrigerated perishables that have been above 40°F for 4 hours or more.
Can I run a generator in my garage if the door is open?
No. CPSC and CDC say never to run a generator inside a home or garage, even with doors and windows open. Run it outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and vents.
Is it safe to use a gas stove or oven to heat my home in a power outage?
No. Ready.gov and CDC both say never to use a gas stove or oven to heat your home, because of carbon monoxide poisoning and fire risk. Go to a community location with power if heat or cold is extreme.
What should I do with refrigerated medicine after a power outage?
Ready.gov says that if the power has been out for more than a day, discard refrigerated medication unless the label says otherwise, and contact your doctor or pharmacist right away for a new supply. For life-critical medicines, ask your provider for specific guidance in advance.
Who do I call about a downed power line?
CDC says never touch a fallen power line and to call the power company to report it. If it is an immediate danger, call 911.
Sources
- Ready.gov — Power Outages
- Ready.gov — Build a Kit
- CDC — What to Do to Protect Yourself During a Power Outage
- CDC — Keep Food Safe After a Disaster or Emergency
- FDA — Food and Water Safety During Power Outages and Floods
- CPSC — Generator, carbon monoxide and fire hazards ahead of hurricane season (May 27, 2026)
- CDC — About Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- CDC — What to Do to Protect Yourself From Electrical Hazards
- CDC — Prepare Your Health: Power sources (fact sheet)
- National Weather Service La Crosse — Power Outage Preparedness