Power Outage Checklist
A power outage checklist for lights, batteries, radios, chargers, food safety, medical devices, generators, alerts, contacts, and recovery notes.
Built for outage planning before and during lost power: lights, batteries, radios, chargers, food safety, medical devices, generators, carbon monoxide reminders, utility alerts, and recovery notes.
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Start with the ready-made power outage checklist, customize the tasks, then print a clean copy or save it as a PDF.
- Items
- 8 editable tasks
- Time / effort
- 15-45 minutes per session
- Best for
- A power outage checklist for lights, batteries, radios, chargers, food safety, medical devices, generators, alerts, contacts, and recovery notes.
- Focus
- A power outage checklist for lights, batteries, radios, chargers, food safety, medical devices, generators, alerts, contacts, and recovery notes.
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Quick answer
What this checklist is for
Built for outage planning before and during lost power: lights, batteries, radios, chargers, food safety, medical devices, generators, carbon monoxide reminders, utility alerts, and recovery notes.
- Best for
- A power outage checklist for lights, batteries, radios, chargers, food safety, medical devices, generators, alerts, contacts, and recovery notes.
- Core checklist items
- Charge phones, power banks, medical backup batteries, radios, laptops, and rechargeable lights before severe weather if possible, Place flashlights, headlamps, lanterns, batteries, radio, non-cordless phone if available, and printed contacts together, Review food safety plan for refrigerator, freezer, coolers, ice, thermometer, and what to use or discard first, List medical devices, refrigerated medicine, mobility equipment, oxygen, CPAP, elevators, garage doors, and backup power needs, Check generator or portable power instructions, outdoor placement, fuel safety, carbon monoxide alarms, and extension cord limits
Printable power outage checklist
- Charge phones, power banks, medical backup batteries, radios, laptops, and rechargeable lights before severe weather if possible
- Place flashlights, headlamps, lanterns, batteries, radio, non-cordless phone if available, and printed contacts together
- Review food safety plan for refrigerator, freezer, coolers, ice, thermometer, and what to use or discard first
- List medical devices, refrigerated medicine, mobility equipment, oxygen, CPAP, elevators, garage doors, and backup power needs
- Check generator or portable power instructions, outdoor placement, fuel safety, carbon monoxide alarms, and extension cord limits
- Keep refrigerator and freezer closed during the outage and record outage start time, food temperatures, and utility updates
- Unplug sensitive electronics, avoid candles, report downed lines, and follow local utility restoration guidance
- After power returns, inspect appliances, reset clocks and alarms, discard unsafe food, restock supplies, and record lessons learned
How to use this checklist
Built for outage planning before and during lost power: lights, batteries, radios, chargers, food safety, medical devices, generators, carbon monoxide reminders, utility alerts, and recovery notes. Bookmark /power-outage-checklist/ if you use this checklist repeatedly.
Planning tips for this checklist
Treat food safety as a timed task
Write the outage start time, keep doors closed, use a thermometer, and note what was discarded. A printed record helps after a long outage.
Plan for power-dependent needs
Medical devices, refrigerated medicine, garage doors, home phones, elevators, and security systems need backup steps before the power goes out.
Keep generator notes visible
Generator and portable power safety details should be printed near the equipment: outdoor placement, carbon monoxide alarms, fuel handling, and extension cord limits.
Frequently asked questions
What should a power outage checklist include?
Include lights, batteries, radio, chargers, food safety, refrigerator and freezer plan, medical device backup, generator safety, utility alerts, contacts, and recovery notes.
How do I plan for refrigerated medicine or medical devices?
List each power-dependent need, backup battery or charging plan, support contact, provider instructions, and when to evacuate to a place with reliable power.
Is this power outage checklist safety advice?
No. It organizes household tasks. Follow utility notices, generator instructions, carbon monoxide safety guidance, food safety guidance, and medical provider instructions.