12 Things You Should Have at the Ready in Case the Power Goes Out

A power outage triggered by severe weather can be particularly scary. Not only do you have to contend with the elements, but you’re also cut off from TV, radio, and other information sources. That’s when you reach for this emergency weather alert radio that receives seven NOAA channels with flood, tornado, thunderstorm, and other warnings. It also has a 25-county memory system, 90-decibel siren, voice alert, and flashing LED warning system. Its three AA batteries will keep it running even after the power has gone out.

An inverter generator is an emergency essential for providing power in the event of an outage. The DuroMax XP11000iH is built for homeowners who want inverter-quiet power without sacrificing capacity. Capable of reaching up to 9,000 running watts on gasoline, we found it able to support large appliances and multiple power tools, all while it also provided safe, stable power to our electronics. Its dual-fuel capability adds flexibility, too; this feature allowed us to switch to propane with a mere flip of a switch. If you’re looking for whole-home backup power with lower noise and cleaner output, the DuroMax is a serious alternative to traditional standby-style generators.

A power strip with a high level of surge protection is a smart choice for plugging in sensitive electronics—and this Belkin 12-outlet power strip is hard to beat. It boasts a high surge suppression rating of 4,320 joules (J). The level of protection normally varies, depending on the product, from as low as 100 J to more than 4,000 J.

Plug into this battery backup with surge protector, and the stored energy provides enough time to wrap up what you’re doing and power down on your own schedule. Its seven outlets include five uninterruptible power supply outlets with surge protection and two surge-protection-only outlets that offer a surge suppression rating of 490 J. There’s also one USB charger port for cellphones and other portable electronics.

This small-but-mighty must-have can light your way during a power outage. RunningSnail’s hand-crank flashlight comes with all the features you expect—and several extras that make it invaluable in emergencies. It offers four ways to charge: a folding hand crank, a replaceable lithium-ion battery, a USB port, and a built-in solar panel for easy charging in daylight. The flashlight also includes a built-in radio with seven preprogrammed weather channels and a telescoping antenna, three light-level settings (far beam 75 lumens, dipped beam 70 lumens, combined 135 lumens), and a motion-activated reading lamp that stays on for 30 seconds.

Open canned, bottled, and jarred food during a power outage with this easy-to-use gadget. Its “lock-on” technology grips lids tightly, and the long handle provides extra leverage. Unlike traditional openers, its side-cutting stainless steel mechanism slices along the outer rim of the can without touching the food or leaving dangerous sharp edges behind. Plus, this versatile 5-in-1 tool also includes specialized openers for crown bottle caps, screw tops, ring pulls, and soda tabs.

This “jumbo-tainer” rigid water container features an easy-to-carry, easy-to-pour shape that incorporates two handle locations. Its large size ensures that you’ll always have a stash of fresh water on hand, and the attachable spigot allows for quick pouring without fuss during outages. Built from BPA-free food-grade plastic, its compact, rectangular footprint also lets you stack multiple containers to maximize emergency storage space.

With a range up to 37 miles, these walkie-talkies communicate across long distances and offer 2,662 channel combinations to minimize cross-talk interference. The built-in NOAA radio receiver provides 24/7 access to weather updates and emergency alerts, keeping you informed when cellular networks fail. Built for rugged conditions, these floating, waterproof radios feature a vibrant orange core for high visibility and a hand-activated LED flashlight for navigating in the dark. Their rewind-say-again feature also lets you replay missed voice transmissions so critical updates never slip by.

When natural disaster strikes, injuries may not be far behind. That’s why a well-stocked, up-to-date first aid kit is an emergency essential when the power goes out. Prepare for scrapes, cuts, splinters, burns, hypothermia, sprains, and more at home or on the go with this ultra-organized 3- to 4-person kit. This kit comes with labeled, color-coded compartments filled with everything you need, including assorted bandages, swabs, and tweezers as well as scissors, a glowstick, and various survival items.

Enjoy worry-free basement protection during a power outage with this pre-plumbed sump pump system. The setup pairs a powerful primary AC pump with a battery-backed secondary DC pump, ensuring continuous water removal even during local grid failures. Its smart Wi-Fi connection sends real-time alerts to your smartphone regarding system status, battery charge levels, and water activity, so you stay informed whether you’re home or away.

Keep the lights on during the next outage with our favorite lantern. If the measure of a good lantern is brightness, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better lantern than this super-bright model from Lepro. Its 1000-lumen LED bulb with 360-degree illumination provides bright light in every direction, making it as useful for power outages as for camping. The Lepro LE super-bright lantern runs for up to 12 hours using its two rechargeable lithium-ion batteries—pretty impressive, given how bright it is.

For a compact-meets-mighty power station, look no further than this device. The Bluetti Elite 200 V2 (also known as the AC200P V2) is the best portable power station we’ve tested to date. It’s a powerhouse that combines serious capacity with smart features and rock-solid reliability. In testing, it ran a full-size refrigerator for over 30 hours and powered a portable air conditioner for about 6 hours. That’s the kind of performance that puts it in a different league from typical “camping” power banks—it’s capable of running a household during an outage or acting as a reliable off-grid setup.