A power outage doesn't have to become an emergency immediately. With two days of preparation, you can organize water, light, communication, food, and safety in such a way that you get through the first 48 hours much more calmly. This step-by-step plan helps you do exactly that.
In short
Use the first day for taking inventory and stocking up on basics. Use the second day to charge everything, get items ready, and make agreements. Keep in mind that the national guideline is broader: 72 hours of self-reliance is recommended for general emergency situations.
First this: 48-hour practice, 72 hours as a baseline
This article is intentionally set up as a 48-hour preparation plan. For your complete emergency kit, it is wise to also use the national 72-hour guideline. See our Think Ahead 72-hour checklist for this.
Day 1 — Get the basics in order
1. Take inventory of your household
- How many people and pets are there?
- Which medicines or medical devices are necessary?
- Which appliances must definitely keep working in the event of an outage?
- Do you cook and heat entirely with electricity?
2. Arrange water
The official emergency kit checklist calculates 3 liters of water per person per day. For 48 hours, that is approximately 6 liters per person; for the full 72-hour supply, about 9 liters.
3. Choose food that requires little power
Prepare simple meals that can be eaten cold or require little preparation. Also think of a manual can opener and food for children or pets.
4. Check basic safety
Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and keep first aid supplies in a fixed location. Never use a barbecue, charcoal, or a burner intended for outdoor use indoors.
Day 2 — Make everything immediately usable
Charge communication and lighting
Fully charge phones, power banks, and rechargeable lights. Keep cables in one place and have a flashlight or headlamp ready for each person. A rechargeable headlamp keeps your hands free; a rechargeable lantern is more practical for a communal room.
Create a cooling strategy
Set the refrigerator and freezer to their normal cold settings and avoid opening them unnecessarily once the power goes out. A full freezer holds cold better than an almost empty one. Frozen water bottles or ice packs can provide an extra buffer of cold.
Prepare a blackout box
Keep lighting, power banks, cables, batteries, first aid, a radio, blankets, and practical tools together. A 20,000 mAh power bank can be useful if phone power is a weak spot in your preparation.
Make agreements
Agree on who does what if mobile internet goes down, where important phone numbers are kept, and which neighbors or family members might need extra help.
During the blackout: what to do and when?
The first 15 minutes
- Check for immediate danger, such as smoke or a burning smell.
- See if the outage is only in your home or also in the surrounding area.
- Keep the refrigerator and freezer closed.
- Set phones to power-saving mode.
The first 2 hours
- Use one fixed light per room instead of all lights at once.
- Use drinking water consciously.
- Follow outage information via radio or phone as long as networks are available.
After 2 to 12 hours
- Eat food that spoils the fastest first, if it is safe to do so.
- Limit heat loss by closing unused rooms and wearing layers of clothing.
- Check news and outage information periodically rather than continuously.
After 12 to 48 hours
- Maintain a simple routine for food, information, and energy usage.
- Pay attention to hygiene and waste if water or sewage systems are also disrupted.
- Check on vulnerable neighbors or family members if it is safely possible.
The 10-minute blackout check
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Lantern for a communal room
- Charged power bank + correct cables
- Battery-powered radio or other emergency radio
- First aid and necessary medication
- Drinking water
- Non-perishable food + manual can opener
- Blankets and warm clothing
- Important numbers and a small amount of cash
Common mistakes
- Opening the fridge constantly: determine what you need in advance and open it as little as possible.
- Candles as standard lighting: LED lighting is generally more practical and does not produce an open flame.
- Cooking indoors with outdoor equipment: do not do this; carbon monoxide is neither visible nor smells.
- Using all power immediately: reserve battery capacity first for communication and necessary appliances.
From blackout plan to complete emergency supply
Did you find gaps in your water, light, first aid, or communication after this exercise? View our emergency kits and only supplement what your household is still missing.
