A plain, ordered plan for the first three days without power, based on government guidance.
- Cover water, food, light, warmth and phone power first. Everything else is a bonus.
- Plan for about 3 days, the figure used in Canadian and UK government guidance.
- Backup power is helpful but is step 8, not step 1.
Government guidance in both Canada and the UK asks households to be ready to cope for about three days without services. Utilities usually restore power sooner, but storms, heat waves and cold snaps can stretch that. Here is a simple order of work.
Before, during and after
- Stock water, no-cook food, light and phone power
- Know your breaker, utility phone number and outage map
- Test alarms and charge batteries
- Check your breaker, then the utility map
- Keep fridge and freezer doors closed
- Generators and grills stay outdoors
- Stay away from downed lines
- Check food against the keep-or-toss rules
- Reset clocks and check sump pumps and alarms
- Restock what you used
1. Water first
Plan on at least 2 litres of drinking water per person per day (the figure used in Canadian guidance), and more for cooking and washing. A planning figure of 4 litres per person per day covers both. Do not forget pets. See how much water to store.
2. Food that needs no cooking
Keep three days of food you can eat cold: canned goods, nut butter, crackers, dried fruit, shelf-stable milk. Add a manual can opener. Use up the fridge food first, then the freezer, then the pantry.
3. Light you can trust
Headlamps and LED lanterns beat candles, which are a fire risk. Store spare batteries in the sizes your devices use.
4. A way to get information
A battery or hand crank radio still works when cell networks are congested. Keep a power bank charged for phones.
5. A warmth plan
Pick one room to heat, close doors, add blankets and layers. Read how to stay warm without power before you buy any heater.
6. Carbon monoxide safety
Never run a generator, BBQ, camp stove or car in a garage or indoors. Have a carbon monoxide alarm with a battery backup.
7. Medical and special needs
Keep at least a week of prescriptions. If you or someone in your home uses powered medical equipment, talk to your doctor and your utility about a backup plan. Many utilities keep a register of customers who need priority support.
8. Backup power, if it fits your budget
A power station can keep a router, phones, lights and a fridge going for a while. It is nice to have, not step one. Use the calculator on our backup power page to size one.
9. Cash and documents
Card machines fail without power. Keep some small bills, copies of ID and insurance, and a paper contact list.
10. Practise once
Flip your main breaker off for an evening. You will find what is missing faster than any list can tell you.
Quick answers
How long should I prepare for?
Government of Canada guidance asks households to be ready for at least 72 hours. If you can, plan for a week or more.
What is the single most useful purchase?
For most homes, a headlamp or lantern per person, stored water and a charged power bank do more than any big-ticket item.