Power Sources

Generator

On average, people experience about four hours of power loss each year. Power outages caused by a large-scale disaster can last longer and be life threatening for people who depend on home use medical devicesexternal icon. Be prepared to be without electricity during an emergency. Identify emergency lighting, safe heating alternatives, and backup power sources for your personal devices, appliances, and medical equipment.

The Basics

  • Emergency lighting, such as a flashlight, head lamp, or battery-powered lantern
  • Extra batteries in common sizes, such as AA and AAA
  • Hearing aid batteries
  • A generator with at least 20 feet of extension cord(s) rated for outdoor use and enough fuel to keep it running.
  • Car charger(s), power banks, and adapters for home use equipment and devices
  • A battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA weather radio with USB port(s)
  • Battery-powered or -backup smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors
  • Appliance thermometers for your refrigerator and freezer
  • A surge protector power strip(s)
  • Warm clothes, blankets, sleeping bags, and emergency (or space) blankets to keep you warm in cold temperatures
Page last reviewed: December 1, 2021, 12:30 pm