A reliable outage kit needs more than a charged phone: keep a way to hear official information without cellular service, a ready source of backup power, basic lighting and safety supplies, and a written plan for reaching family members. The guidance below is U.S.-focused and uses FEMA recommendations; adapt it to local alerts and your household’s needs.
Start with a communications kit, not just a power kit
When the power goes out, a phone may lose charge, cellular service may be disrupted, and home internet equipment may stop working. Build in more than one way to receive information and more than one way to contact or reunite with household members.
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- Radio: FEMA recommends a battery-powered or hand-crank radio that can receive NOAA Weather Radio tone alerts, plus extra batteries where applicable. Compare power options, alert capability, and reception in your area; not every radio receives every signal everywhere. See FEMA’s emergency supply checklist.
- Phone charging: Keep phones and other essential electronics charged when severe weather is expected. Pack an extra phone battery, charger, or compatible external battery, and confirm that its connectors match the devices you may need. FEMA’s power-outage sheet says: “Keep mobile phones and other electronic equipment charged. Plan for alternative power sources that you can use to charge devices.”
- Paper backup: Write down important phone numbers, addresses, and your household communication plan. A paper copy remains available if devices are dead or inaccessible.
- Alerts: Sign up for local alerts where available, and keep radio as a complementary source. FEMA’s app page says the app can provide real-time National Weather Service alerts for up to five locations and help users find nearby shelters; it was last updated 2024-10-29. App alerts still depend on a functioning device and connectivity, so do not make the app your only alert path. Check the current details at FEMA’s app page.
FEMA’s broader 2025 National Preparedness Month toolkit also emphasizes planning ahead. Choose equipment for the devices and conditions you actually expect rather than assuming one battery or radio setup fits every home.
Assemble the household’s basic supplies
FEMA describes its checklist as a starting point, not a complete one-size-fits-all shopping list. Build a home supply area and consider smaller portable kits for a vehicle or workplace.
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- Water and non-perishable food.
- First-aid supplies and sanitation items.
- Flashlight or battery-powered lantern, with spare batteries. FEMA recommends flashlights; use them instead of candles to reduce fire risk.
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio, with extra batteries if needed.
- Phone charger, extra phone battery, or a compatible external battery.
- Local maps and a paper copy of household contacts and plans.
Keep the radio, batteries, chargers, and lights where household members can find them in the dark. Check periodically that batteries have not been depleted, rechargeable equipment is charged, and supplies remain usable.
Make a family communications and meeting plan
FEMA’s power-outage information sheet, FEMA P-2143, says: “Create a communications plan and keep a paper copy.” Make the plan specific enough that each person knows what to do if household members are separated.
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- Write down each household member’s contact details and an out-of-area contact, if you choose to use one.
- Choose a safe place near home and another meeting place outside the immediate neighborhood in case you cannot return home.
- Agree how and when household members will check in, and what to do if calls or messages do not go through.
- Print the plan and keep copies where they will be accessible, such as in the emergency kit and a portable kit.
- Determine whether your phone will work during a power outage. FEMA notes that landline phones will not work if their lines are damaged.
Plan backup power around essential devices
Choose charging equipment that works with the specific phones and other small devices you need to keep available. Check connector compatibility and keep the charger itself ready. FEMA’s cited materials do not establish a universal number of phone charges or runtime for a power bank or power station, so treat capacity claims as device- and use-dependent rather than guaranteed.
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If you plan to use a generator, decide in advance which essential loads matter most; a generator may not run everything at once. FEMA says generators should be outdoors at least 20 feet from building openings such as windows, doors, or garages. Follow the generator manufacturer’s instructions and applicable local safety guidance.
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Adapt the kit for medical, food, and household needs
Powered medical equipment and refrigerated medication
If anyone relies on an electricity-dependent medical device, make an outage plan with their doctor, including how the device will be used and how medication will be stored. For medication that needs refrigeration, ask a doctor or pharmacist about that specific product’s temperature limits and what to do after an outage; do not assume a general food-safety time limit applies to medicine.
Children, older adults, pets, and other household members
Adjust quantities and supplies for everyone who lives in or depends on the household, including pets. FEMA’s checklist is a baseline: account for individual food, medication, mobility, communication, and care needs rather than relying on a generic list.
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Alarms and safe lighting
FEMA recommends smoke and carbon monoxide alarms with battery backup on every level and near sleeping areas. Use flashlights or battery-powered lanterns rather than candles during an outage.
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Never use a gas stovetop, oven, grill, or dryer to heat a home, and never run a vehicle inside a garage. Keep refrigerators and freezers closed as much as possible. FEMA’s power-outage information sheet (FEMA P-2143) says a closed refrigerator keeps food cold for about 4 hours and a full, closed freezer stays at a safe temperature for about 48 hours. FEMA advises discarding refrigerated food held at 40°F or above for more than 4 hours. Monitor temperatures and follow current food-safety guidance.
Quick Recap
Review and maintain the plan
- Before severe weather, charge phones and backup charging equipment, and make sure the radio and lights work.
- Check that household members know where the kit and paper plan are kept.
- Review local alert signups and the radio’s ability to receive relevant broadcasts where you live.
- After using supplies, replace them and update contact details or household needs that have changed.
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