Power Outage Kit Essentials: What to Keep at Home

Updated 11/02/2026 · By the Simple Home Nest editors

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Storms, heat waves and grid problems can knock out power for hours or days. A small, well-organized kit makes those hours much easier. This guide walks through the categories that matter most and points to examples we have featured on Simple Home Nest.

Start with the basics. Ready.gov, the U.S. government's preparedness site, recommends storing at least one gallon of water per person per day for several days, plus food, a flashlight, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio and extra batteries.

1. Light you can count on

Flashlights are good, but lanterns light a whole room and free up your hands. Headlamps are the best option when you need to cook, check the breaker box or help kids get ready for bed. Keep at least one light per family member and store them where you can find them in the dark.

2. Batteries and backup power

Check which battery sizes your lights, radios and smoke detectors use, then keep spares of those sizes. Bulk packs are convenient, but write the purchase date on the box and rotate them so you are not relying on old batteries. If your car is your backup charging station, a portable jump starter helps when the car battery is the thing that fails.

3. Stay informed

Cell networks can get congested during big storms. A weather radio with a hand crank keeps you connected to local alerts without depending on outlets or charged phones.

4. Water

Stored water comes first. Portable filters are a useful backup for travel kits and longer emergencies, but read what each filter is rated to remove and follow the manufacturer's instructions and local guidance.

5. Safety

Outages often mean candles, generators and space heaters, all of which raise fire and carbon monoxide risk. Never run a generator indoors or in a garage. Working smoke and CO alarms on every level of the home are one of the most important parts of any plan.

Quick checklist

  • Water for every person and pet for several days
  • One light per person, plus a lantern for shared spaces
  • Spare batteries in the sizes your devices use
  • Hand-crank or battery-powered radio
  • Charged power bank or car charging plan
  • Working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
  • First-aid kit, medications and copies of important documents

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