Storm Prep for safer, calmer outages
Emergency kit checklists, outage guides, and backup power advice to help your household stay ready before severe weather hits.
Power Outage Emergency Kit
Learn how to build a power outage emergency kit, including a water supply, storable food, plus charging and backup power for home or use on the go.
Continue readingQuick kit checklist
Outage Guides
Every outage is different. Be prepared for the outages most likely to affect you.
Home Battery Backup vs Whole House Generator: Which Is Right for You?
A home generator is best for long, high-demand outages, while a battery backup is best for short outages, silent operation, and solar integration.
| Compare | Battery | Generator |
|---|---|---|
| Noise level | - | |
| Best for overnight use | - | |
| Handles large whole-home loads | - | |
| Runs through multi-day outages | - |
Medical Device Power Outage Checklist
Learn how to prepare for a power outage as a medical device user to keep essential equipment running safely during extended blackouts.
Continue reading
Latest in Storm Prep
Recent storm-prep articles from the editorial team.
Get Information During a Power Outage Without Internet
Get information during an outage without internet through a radio tuned to NOAA and local AM, SMS alerts, your car radio, and an out-of-area contact.
Get Information During a Power Outage Without Internet
Get information during an outage without internet through a radio tuned to NOAA and local AM, SMS alerts, your car radio, and an out-of-area contact.
Read morePower Outage Food Safety & Refrigerator Guide
Your fridge lasts 4 hours without power. Learn what to keep, what to toss, and how to maintain safe food habits during a power outage.
5 Best Portable Refrigerators & Freezers for Power Outages
The ICECO VL45 ProS is the best portable fridge for a power outage, cooling 47 qt capacity with reasonable energy draw.
5 Best Walkie-Talkies for Family Emergencies (2026) | PowerOutage.us
The Midland T77VP5 is the best walkie-talkie for an emergency, with NOAA alerts, AA power, and an approximate range of 0.5 to 2 miles in neighborhoods.
5 Best Satellite Communicators for When Cell Towers Go Down
The Garmin inReach Messenger is our pick for the best satellite communicator with its two-way Iridium texting and a 28-day battery.
