Scenario · 31 entries

Blackout

The power is out and nobody knows for how long.

A blackout starts three clocks at once: the food in the fridge, the water pressure in the lines, and the heat in the house. What you do in the first 45 minutes matters more than anything you buy afterward.

The timeline

First 45 minutesFill every container with water. Confirm the scope. Stay out of the stores.

First 3 daysEat from the fridge, then the freezer. Shrink to one room. Run power in short rotations.

Beyond day 3Water becomes a system. Ration power. Decide, calmly, whether to stay or go.

The clocks that matter

Fridge: about 4 hours

Eat or cook what will spoil first while it is still cold.

Freezer: 24 to 48 hours

Full lasts about 48 hours, half-full about 24. Keep the door shut.

CO: minutes

Any indoor combustion can kill fast. Detector in every heated room.

Eat in this order

Fridge first Most perishable
Freezer next As it thaws
Shelf-stable last Cans and dry goods
Cook what may spoil While it is safe

Start with the full guide

Master guideBlackout guideWhat to do in the first 45 minutes, the first 3 days, and beyond: water, food order, heat, power, comms, and medical.Open the full page ChecklistPower outage gear checklistWhat to have for an extended outage, from cash and backup power to water, lighting, fuel, and communication, with product picks.Open the full page Master guideCooking, Fuel and Fire When the Power or Gas Is OffWhat to eat first, how to cook with no power or gas, where each stove is safe, how long fuels keep, how to make fire, and the safety gear and spare parts behind it all.Open the full page

Type

Need

Formulas 3

Tools and Repair · Formula Battery terminal cleaner (vinegar) Alkaline: vinegar; Lead-acid: baking soda; First: disconnect cables Handle with care Hygiene and Sanitation · Formula Freshen bedding and sleeping pads without washing (vinegar, sun) Foam pads, sleeping bags, and boots harbor bacteria in places you cannot easily wash with soap and water. Handle with care Food · Formula Water glassing eggs with hydrated lime (long-term egg storage) Ratio: 1 oz lime / quart; Per gallon: 4 oz (≈28-32 eggs); Submerge: 2 in on top Hazardous

Supplies 3

Food · Supply MREs (meals, ready-to-eat): contents, heating, shelf life Shelf life 3 to 5 years; rated 3 years at 80°F, about 1 month at 120°F Food · Supply Powdered milk for food storage Nonfat dry milk lasts 2 to 10 years cool, dry, airtight, oxygen removed; no refrigeration needed Warmth and Shelter · Supply Wool for survival clothing and blankets Absorbs up to 30% of its weight in moisture without feeling damp

Skills 3

Power and Light · Skill Crayon candle for emergency light One crayon gives about 15 to 30 minutes of light Communications · Skill How to get a GMRS license $35 fee, no exam, good for 10 years, covers immediate family Water · Skill How to source, carry, and filter local fresh water Two 3-gallon AquaBricks on a frame pack: six gallons, about fifty pounds

Guides 22

Medical · Guide 3 medical books for homesteaders and preppers Auerbach for acute emergencies, Werner for diagnosis, Alton for long-term care Communications · Guide Backup internet with Starlink Mini and portable power Starlink Standby Mode: $10 a month, unlimited low-speed data around 0.5 Mbps Power and Light · Guide Blackout guide: first 45 minutes, first 3 days, and beyond Fill every container with water first; a bathtub holds 40 to 80 gallons Kits and Planning · Guide Books for self-reliance (print reference library) A printed book needs no batteries, signal or power to work Communications · Guide Communicate without cell service or internet (GMRS radios) Pick: Rocky Talkie Expedition Radio (5 watt GMRS); 2-8 miles typical range, 4-6 days per charge Power and Light · Guide EMP (electromagnetic pulse) sources and effects A high-altitude nuclear EMP can potentially cover an entire continent Power and Light · Guide Faraday-protected emergency electronics: the sling bag and the grab-and-go kit Two builds: a Faraday Defense 10L sling bag, or a Milwaukee Packout case with every device in a Faraday bag or jacket Communications · Guide GMRS vs FRS radios (power, range, license) GMRS: up to 50 watts mobile or base, 5 to 25 miles, $35 license. FRS: 2 watts, 1 to 2 miles, no license Cooking, Fuel and Fire · Guide Grab-and-go camp kitchen checklist Packed in a Pelican Vault hard case with a 1lb propane tank and stove adapter Power and Light · Guide Home backup power system (ETHOS battery and LUXPower inverter) 3 x 48V ETHOS 5.12kWh modules (15.3kWh) with a LUXPower 12kW hybrid inverter Kits and Planning · Guide Home emergency readiness (power, water, comms, security) Run portable generators at least 20 feet from the house, exhaust pointed away Communications · Guide Off-grid communication options (no cell service required) Starlink Mini on Standby Mode: $10 a month for about 500 Kbps, unlimited data Power and Light · Guide Off-grid solar power setup under $850 EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic (1024Wh) plus Zoupw 400W panel, combined under $850 Power and Light · Guide Power outage gear checklist Pick: Anker 548 Power Bank, 60,000mAh, over 10 full device charges Power and Light · Guide Solar power basics Best battery choice: lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4); MPPT charge controllers are more efficient than PWM Warmth and Shelter · Guide Staying warm with limited gear (mild or warm climates) Manage heat loss first: block wind and insulate underneath you before adding layers Cooking, Fuel and Fire · Guide Storing and using propane for self-sufficiency Propane has an indefinite shelf life; store tanks upright, secured, and ventilated Kits and Planning · Guide Survival bucket for under $300 from Walmart Everything fits in one 5 gallon bucket and costs under $300 at Walmart Kits and Planning · Guide Survival supplies for flood victims Clean drinking water is the most critical need after a flood Kits and Planning · Guide Sweden's "In Case of Crisis or War" pamphlet: key lessons Sweden's target: self-sufficient for at least a week, three liters of water per person per day. I store 1 gallon per person per day for at least two weeks Food · Guide When the Power Goes Out Cold food is safe only while it stays cold. Keep the doors shut, know your timelines, and eat down the fridge before you open the freezer. Warmth and Shelter · Guide Wood stove installation through a ceiling and roof (DIY) Took less than 10 hours at a total cost of $2,682, using 6" DuraVent pipe