Outage planning / Blog & insights
A household outage plan everyone can use
Put your contacts, responsibilities and backup arrangements in one place before you need them.
Have the conversation before filling the page
Walk through a familiar situation: the power goes out while some people are at home and others are away. Who checks on the household? How will you communicate if a phone battery is low? Does anyone need transport, help with stairs or assistance with a pet?
Write down the decisions that would otherwise be left to chance. The worksheet gives you a shared starting point, not a test to get every answer perfect.
Save contacts outside your phone's address book
Record your utility's outage reporting details, a nearby contact and an out-of-area contact. Confirm those people are willing and able to help. Choose a local emergency alert source and agree on a check-in arrangement.
Keep a printed copy somewhere familiar. Save another copy on your phone. Avoid leaving your only copy in an online account that needs an internet connection to open.
Decide when staying home stops making sense
Discuss a place to go, transport and whether pets can come. Include official evacuation instructions in your planning. If indoor heat or cold becomes unsafe, CDC advises seeking shelter with friends or at a community shelter. [1]
For someone who depends on powered medical equipment or temperature-sensitive medicine, work out backup arrangements with the relevant care team. A household energy system should not replace that contingency planning.
Practice once, then keep it current
Ask someone else in the household to find the kit, the plan and a flashlight without your help. Call or message your chosen support contacts yourself to confirm arrangements. Update the plan when people, equipment or contact details change.
The completed sheet contains personal information. Keep it secure; you do not need to send it to Blackout Ready to use the resource.
Sources & further reading
Information reviewed November 10, 2026.
Practical household planning guidance. Follow local emergency instructions and get advice for your individual needs.