In an emergency, call 911 (US) or 999 (UK) and follow instructions from local officials first.
Ready Survival Kits

Disasters · US

Power outage

Keep food safe, run a generator without poisoning anyone, and know what to throw out.

By The Ready TeamExpert review: pendingSources checked 29 October 2026

Quick card · Power outageSources checked 29 Oct 2026

Before

  • Put appliance thermometers in your fridge and freezer. 1
  • Keep the fridge at or below 40°F and the freezer at or below 0°F. 1
  • Install a battery-powered or battery-backup CO detector. 2

During

  • Keep doors shut. A fridge stays cold about 4 hours. A full freezer holds about 48 hours, a half-full one about 24. 1
  • Run generators outdoors only, never less than 20 feet from any window, door or vent. 2
  • Never use a grill, camp stove or lantern indoors. 2

After

  • Throw out perishable food that's been above 40°F for 2 hours or more. 1
  • Freezer food that still has ice crystals or reads 40°F or below can be refrozen. 1
  • Throw out refrigerated medicine after a day or more without power, unless the label says otherwise. 2
  • When in doubt, throw it out. 1

What to have

  • Appliance thermometers 1
  • Battery-powered CO detector 2
  • Extension cord longer than 20 feet for a generator 2
  • Flashlight, batteries, and a phone backup battery 3

Food: the numbers to remember

Safe without power (doors closed)
RefrigeratorAbout 4 hours
Full freezerAbout 48 hours
Half-full freezerAbout 24 hours

From FoodSafety.gov and CDC. 1 2 Throw out perishable food that has been above 40°F for 2 hours or more. 1

Generators and carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide has no smell or color. The CDC says never run a gasoline engine less than 20 feet from any window, door or vent, use an extension cord longer than 20 feet so the generator stays away from the house, and keep a battery-powered or battery-backup CO detector inside. 2

Solar panels and outages

If you have rooftop solar, it may not help in an outage. The Department of Energy explains that grid-tied systems are designed to switch off when the grid goes down, and need a properly configured inverter and battery storage to keep running. 4 See our off-grid section for more.

Sources

  1. FoodSafety.gov, Food Safety in a Disaster or Emergency
  2. CDC, What to Do to Protect Yourself During a Power Outage
  3. Ready.gov (FEMA), Build a Kit
  4. U.S. Department of Energy, Solar and Resilience Basics