15 questions
Questions and answers
How much emergency supply should a family keep at home?
Ready.gov asks every household to be able to manage on its own for several days. We suggest at least three days as a minimum and two weeks as a goal: water, food, light, phone power, a radio, first aid, warmth, a toilet plan and a carbon monoxide alarm.
How much water should I store?
One gallon per person per day, for drinking and basic hygiene — so a family of four needs 12 gallons for three days and 56 gallons for two weeks. Add extra for pets, hot weather, nursing mothers or anyone who is ill.
How long does food stay safe in the fridge when the power goes out?
About 4 hours if you keep the door closed. A full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours (about 24 hours if half full). Food that has been above 40°F for more than 2 hours should be thrown out.
Can I run my fridge on a portable power station?
Yes. A typical modern fridge uses roughly 1–2 kWh a day, so a 1 kWh power station can run it for many hours, and longer if you recharge it with a solar panel. Check your fridge's label and our guide for the honest maths.
Is a portable power station safe to use indoors?
Yes. Battery power stations make no fumes, so they can be used inside, unlike gas generators. Gas generators must only run outdoors, far from doors and windows, because their carbon monoxide can kill in minutes.
Why do I need a carbon monoxide alarm for a power outage?
During outages people use generators, grills and heaters, and carbon monoxide poisoning cases rise. It has no smell or colour. A battery-powered CO alarm keeps working when the power is off and warns you in time.
What do I do for a toilet if the water stops?
Line the toilet bowl or a bucket with a strong bag, add an absorbent gel or cat litter after each use, tie it off and store it sealed outside. Never pour waste down the drain if the sewer is down.
Can I use AI or Wikipedia with no internet?
Yes. Free apps like Kiwix let you download all of Wikipedia and medical guides to a laptop or drive, and apps like Ollama run a small AI model on your own computer. Set it up now, while you still have internet.
Why are power outages becoming more common?
US grid regulators warn that electricity demand is rising fast — driven partly by AI data centres — while older power plants retire, and extreme weather is putting more strain on the grid. See our news page for the sources.
How does the "Add whole kit to Amazon cart" button work?
It opens Amazon's own add-to-cart page with every item and quantity in the kit filled in. Nothing is bought until you review your cart and check out on Amazon, so you can remove anything you already own.
Why don't you show prices?
Amazon prices change all the time, and Amazon's rules only allow prices pulled live from Amazon. Every product has a "Check price on Amazon" button so you always see the current price there.
Which kit should I start with?
Start with the Blackout Kit — three days for two people — then build up. Families with children, or anyone who relies on a fridge for medicine, should aim for the Family Kit, which adds a solar battery that can run the fridge.
I live in an apartment. Does this still work for me?
Yes. The Blackout Kit fits in one closet tote. Power stations and induction hobs are safe indoors, and a bucket toilet with bags solves the problem of no water on upper floors.
How often should I check my emergency kit?
Every six months — when the clocks change is an easy reminder. Recharge batteries and power banks, test the radio and alarms, rotate stored water and check food and medicine dates.
Are you Amazon?
No. Doomsday Kit is an independent free guide. We link to Amazon because it delivers almost everywhere and the add-to-cart page lets you buy a whole kit at once. We are not endorsed by Amazon.