My Power Outage Supplies That I Actually Use
Let’s talk power outage supplies—because if you’ve ever been stuck in the dark with a dying phone and no idea where the flashlight is, you know how fast a minor inconvenience can turn into a real headache. And if you’ve got a family to take care of, being unprepared isn’t just annoying—it can be downright stressful. Making sure everyone stays safe, warm, and fed during an outage is so much easier when you have the right supplies on hand.
Over the years, I’ve figured out exactly what’s actually useful during a power outage. This isn’t some generic checklist—I’m sharing the emergency power outage supplies I personally own and use, the ones that have saved me from freezing in the dark, eating sad, cold meals, or trying to calm restless kids with zero entertainment options. Whether you’re prepping for a storm, an unexpected blackout, or just want to be ready for anything, these are the must-haves that actually make a difference for you and your family.
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Why Being Prepared Matters
Power outages can happen for so many reasons—storms, high winds, ice, accidents, or even just an overloaded grid. Sometimes they last a few hours, but other times, you could be without power for days. Having a solid plan in place makes all the difference in how stressful (or manageable) the situation feels.
When you have the right supplies, you’re not just avoiding inconvenience—you’re protecting your home, keeping your family safe and comfortable, and making sure everyone has what they need until the power comes back on. A little preparation now can save you a lot of trouble later.
My Go-To Power Outage Supplies List
Here’s my personal list of the best power outage essentials that I always keep on hand- these are things I actually have in my home and love:
Power Outage Supplies I Actually Use
Don’t get caught unprepared the next time the power goes out! This post shares the power outage supplies I personally own and rely on to keep my home safe, comfortable, and running smoothly when the lights go out. From must-have essentials to smart little extras, this list will help you get ready for any blackout.
Westinghouse Portable Generator
My #1 recommendation is the gas generator that I use for my home and let me tell you- getting a generator is life changing during a storm! You can use this generator to keep your fridge cold so your food doesn't get cold, charge your phone, plug in your coffee maker or toaster to oven to have something to eat or even a tv for your kids to watch a movie. We have used this generator for it all. It's powerful and runs multiple things at one time.
Wireless Rechargeable Lights
I orginally got these light to go under my cabinets, which is where I use them daily. They are rechargable and magnet to underneath the cabinet or whereever you want to put them. They also have multiple modes of lighting and motion sensor too. I use these when the power goes out as flashlights to carry around the house. They are very helpful for the kids to use as well. If you know a storm is coming, plug these in and get them charged up to have light all night long.
Emergency Hand Crank Radio with Flashlight
This is one of my favorite purchases I have made for my power outage supplies kit. This radio has a flashlight, electric charging port and can be charged with solar. You have hand crank it or charge it ahead of time if you are aware of the storm. This is a fun thing to have when you don't have any power you can still listen to the radio and charge your phone if you need too.
Spring Water
You need to have some source of water. If the power goes out for a long time, you will not have water. So start stocking up on some sort of water for your family. Grab a few extra gallons each time you go to the store and find somwhere to keep them.
Long-Burn Emergency Candles, Unscented
I like these 12 hour burn emergency candles to light up the house and carry around when the power is out. I have many different candle holders at my house so these work great when we need to light up the house when the power is out. You should add a pack out 2 of these candles to your emergency supplies for power outage.
A well Stocked Pantry
Keeping your pantry well stocked is great for anytime but especially when there is an emergency situation like a power outage. This makes feeding your family a whole lot easier.
Hand Crank Emergency Flashlights
If you have kids, these flashlights are perfect for you! These flashlights are hand crank so you dont need to worr about any batteries. The hand cranking is easy to do and helps the kids feel safe that if there is a power outage they are prepared with their own flashlight. And no worrying about if you forgot to get batteries for the flashlights or not- you always have an option with these. My kids keep these in their beside tables.
Natural Fire Starters
Some sort of fire starting supplies are needed for your emergency power outage supplies kit. You need this to have some way to eat in case of an emergency and maybe heat too if you live in a cold area. Keep lighters, fire starters, wood, charcoal, grills, etc whatever you decide for you family to be able to cook food in case of power outage.
Car Power Inverter
I like to have on of these in my kit because if I don't have a generator or any other thing to charge my phone in my house, I could use my car. You could also use this for something else you might need to plug in, I had used it before during a power outage for my sons nebulizer treatment. This also comes in handy for lots of other things when traveling so it's a great item to have. We use ours all the time.
Emergency Mylar Thermal Blankets
I keep emergency thermal blankets in our emergency supplies kit because we live in an area that gets very cold in winter so I always want to be prepared for a power outage during any season. Make sure to have a blanket in your kit for every member of your family.
Can Opener
Keep a regular ol can opener in your emergency supplies kit. You should make sure to keep your pantry stocked with things you could eat in case of an emergency as well.
ENERGIZER LED Flashlight
One good flashlight or lantern is great to have for whoever needs to start the generator and be in charge of the house. Going outside with a good flashlight makes things feel a little bit better.
A Few Extra Tips For Power Outages
- Keep your supplies in an easy-to-reach spot. There’s nothing worse than searching for a flashlight in the dark. Designate a specific area for your power outage essentials so you can grab them quickly.
- Make sure batteries and backups are charged. Check flashlights, battery packs, and anything rechargeable regularly so they’re ready to go when you need them.
- Have a plan for food and water. If the power is out for more than a few hours, you’ll want to have easy meals on hand that don’t require cooking. Keep a stash of shelf-stable food and plenty of drinking water.
- Think about comfort and entertainment. Power outages can feel long, especially with kids. A few non-tech entertainment options (like books, puzzles, or board games) can go a long way in keeping everyone calm and occupied.
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Final Thoughts About Power Outage Supplies
Being prepared for a power outage doesn’t mean you have to go full doomsday prepper (unless you want too!)—it just means having the basics covered so you’re not left scrambling when the lights go out. The supplies on this list are the ones I personally rely on, and they’ve made a huge difference in how smoothly power outages go in my home. Take a little time now to get your essentials in place, and I promise, the next blackout won’t feel nearly as stressful.
This is not my full list for emergencies because there are other things you should have, such as a first aid kit, water purification supplies, etc. But this list of my top power outage supplies that I use will help you out in case a power outage occurs!
What’s on your must-have list for power outages? Let me know in the comments—I’m always looking for great recommendations!