How to Prepare for a Blackout: Reliable Energy for a Prolonged Power Outage

Updated September 10, 2026

To prepare for a blackout, identify the appliances you need, size a backup power source for those loads, and plan how you will refuel or recharge it during a prolonged power outage. Keep lighting, food, water, communications, and a place to go if your home becomes unsafe in the same plan.

A useful backup-power plan answers three questions: what must run, how long must it run, and what happens when the first supply of fuel or stored energy runs out?

If an EMP is part of your risk plan, learn whether unplugging electronics reduces EMP risk and compare EMP protection by device type before deciding which backups to store or keep connected.

Evaluate your energy needs before buying equipment

Make a list of essential loads, such as refrigeration, lights, phone charging, a well or sump pump, and heating-system controls. Record each device's voltage, running watts, starting demand, and expected hours of use. Have an electrician help with hardwired equipment and loads you cannot identify. The Red Cross generator guide explains why startup demand must be included.

Separate the power needed at one moment from the energy needed over time:

• Watts (W): the rate of power use. Your generator or inverter must support the loads operating together and their starting requirements.
• Watt-hours (Wh): energy used over time. Multiply watts by operating hours; 1,000 Wh equals 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh).

For example, a hypothetical 20-watt light used for five hours consumes 100 Wh. A constant 100-watt load running for ten hours consumes 1,000 Wh. These are calculations, not appliance ratings or product-runtime claims. Refrigerators and pumps cycle, so their daily energy use needs a separate estimate or measurement.

Compare backup generators, batteries, and solar power

Portable and standby generators

Compare DuroMax portable generators against your load list. The DuroMax XP13000HXT is one model to investigate; check its current specifications and manual for the fuel and connection you intend to use. A model name or peak-wattage headline alone does not establish suitability.

For a permanent installation, compare home standby generators with an installer. Ask which circuits will be backed up and which loads may need to be managed. Do not assume every standby generator can run every appliance simultaneously.

For a prolonged outage, request fuel-consumption figures at the planned load. Include available fuel, safe storage, delivery access, and scheduled service stops in the runtime plan. Avoid treating a propane tank or utility gas connection as a promise of uninterrupted operation.

Battery backup and solar-powered generators

A battery stores energy; it does not replenish itself. For a planning estimate, divide energy actually available to the loads by average load:

Estimated runtime in hours = available watt-hours ÷ average watts.

If an illustrative system can deliver 800 Wh to a constant 100-watt load, the calculated runtime is eight hours. Do not substitute advertised battery capacity for delivered energy without accounting for reserve settings, conversion losses, and operating conditions. Confirm the inverter can start and run the equipment as well.

When considering home solar equipment, ask the installer to demonstrate the proposed outage mode. Confirm grid isolation, backup circuits, compatible controls, and storage for use after sunset. Do not assume that adding panels or a battery automatically gives an existing installation backup capability. Manufacturer configurations differ; Tesla's system-integration guidance, for example, documents specific limitations when combining its batteries with generators and other energy sources.

For smaller charging needs, compare mobile solar products. Check compatible inputs, connectors, and charging limits before buying components.

DIY solar systems and small wind turbines

A DIY system needs a complete design, not just a shopping list of panels, batteries, a charge controller, and an inverter. Have the design checked for component compatibility, electrical protection, wiring, disconnects, and enclosure requirements before assembly.

For small wind turbines, request an energy estimate for your site's measured wind conditions and proposed installation. Do not base an emergency-power purchase on a generic wind-speed threshold. Ask how the complete system will serve loads during an outage. Properties with flowing water can also use our hydroelectric power for home guide to assess whether further site investigation makes sense.

Use backup power safely during a blackout

Run portable fuel-burning generators outdoors, more than 20 feet from windows, doors, and vents. Never operate one inside a house or garage, even with doors open. Install battery-powered or battery-backup carbon monoxide alarms near sleeping areas and follow their placement instructions. Never use a gas oven to heat your home or an outdoor camp stove indoors. CDC: Carbon monoxide prevention.

Never connect a generator to household wiring through a wall outlet. Have an electrician install appropriate transfer equipment for a house connection. For directly connected appliances, use correctly rated outdoor cords and inspect them for damage. Keep equipment dry according to its instructions, and shut down and cool a gasoline generator before refueling. If a CO alarm sounds or poisoning is suspected, get everyone outdoors to fresh air and call 911. Red Cross: Safe generator use.

Assemble a power-outage kit and household plan

• Accessible flashlights, spare batteries, and charged phone power banks.
• Nonperishable food, drinking water, a manual can opener, and supplies for pets.
• A battery or crank radio, paper contacts, first-aid supplies, and essential medicines.
• A planned destination if heating, cooling, or essential equipment becomes unavailable.

Use flashlights instead of candles. Discuss power-dependent medical equipment and refrigerated medicines with the relevant care providers before an outage. Keep contact and evacuation plans accessible without internet service. The Red Cross power-outage checklist recommends preparing food and water for at least two weeks.

Protect refrigerated and frozen food

Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. CDC guidance gives these approximate limits when doors remain shut: four hours for a refrigerator, 48 hours for a full freezer, and 24 hours for a half-full freezer. Have appliance thermometers and a cooler with ice ready.

Discard refrigerated perishables after four hours without power or another cold source. Never taste food to determine safety. Frozen food that still contains ice crystals or remains at 40°F or below can be refrozen or cooked. Follow the CDC's food-safety instructions for the conditions you actually experienced.

Test your plan before the next power outage

Schedule a practice run using the manufacturer's procedures. Record which loads work together, how much energy or fuel the test uses, and who can operate the equipment. Follow the maintenance schedule, keep manuals accessible, and recharge stored batteries as their manufacturer directs.

Budget for installation, connection equipment, fuel or charging, and maintenance alongside the purchase price. To discuss products, contact Prepper Hideout with your load list, required runtime, existing equipment models, and preferred fuel or charging source.