Short power outage kit
What to have for a 1–3 day blackout, from grid faults to storms. Calm, sourced, and personalisable in 90 seconds.
Most blackouts in Europe end within 24 to 72 hours — but the first six are the ones that decide whether your household is uncomfortable or in trouble. Lights are not the problem. The problem is the fridge, the heating, the lift, and the inability to charge the phone you use to call about all three.
Why this kit, not a generic 72-hour list
A generic "72-hour kit" assumes you live in a detached house with a garage. If you live in a top-floor apartment with electric heating and a fridge full of medication, your kit looks different. Our list is shaped by your home, your household, your climate, and the few specific things you depend on. We don't add fluff to feel comprehensive; the only items here are the ones that meaningfully change the next 72 hours.
What this kit usually contains
A representative slice of the kit a typical European household receives for this scenario. Quantities are tuned to your household and climate when you run the personaliser. Estimated total cost for the items below: €751.
| Item | Quantity | Est. cost |
|---|---|---|
| Battery-powered carbon-monoxide alarmcritical A stand-alone CO detector with a 10-year battery, placed in any room you might burn fuel for heat. |
1 unit | €25 |
| Insulated cool box for refrigerated medicationcritical A small passive cool box plus a stockpile of frozen gel packs (kept rotating in the freezer). |
1 kit | €30 |
| CPAP / oxygen battery backupcritical A medical-grade portable battery or 12 V power bank sized for at least 8 hours of your CPAP or oxygen concentrator. |
1 unit | €250 |
| Manual well pump or pitcher pumpcritical A hand-operated pump compatible with your well casing — lever or pitcher style — and an annual water test kit. |
1 unit | €150 |
| Drinking water reservecritical Sealed potable water in cool, dark storage. Split across multiple containers — if one spoils, the rest survives. |
(adults + childrenCount) * 2 * days L | €12 |
| Shelf-stable no-cook food (3 days)critical Nuts, bars, tinned fish, peanut butter, dried fruit. Food that needs no heat, no fridge, and almost no prep. |
(adults * 2000 + childrenCount * 1500) * days kcal | €35 |
| Manual can openercritical A simple, reliable can opener that does not need power. Keep one in the kitchen and one in the evac bag. |
2 units | €6 |
| Basic first-aid kitcritical Adhesive dressings, sterile gauze, tape, gloves, scissors, tweezers, antiseptic, paracetamol/ibuprofen, ORS sachets. |
1 kit | €25 |
| Headlamp + spare batteriescritical A hands-free LED headlamp per person, plus enough spare batteries for one full set. |
adults + childrenCount units | €18 |
| Battery / hand-crank radiocritical A small radio that works without mains power and receives AM/FM and (where available) NOAA/EBU emergency bands. |
1 unit | €30 |
| UPS for router + mobile-data backup A small uninterruptible power supply for the home router and a 4G/5G mobile hotspot or tethering plan as backup internet. |
1 set | €120 |
| Generator fuel reserve (rotated) 10-20 L of petrol or diesel for the generator, stored in approved jerry cans with fuel stabilizer. |
20 L | €50 |
Three habits this week
- Charge a 10,000 mAh power bank now and keep it next to your front door, plugged in. It will be useless the first time you actually need it if it is flat in a drawer.
- Walk through your flat with the lights off. Count the things you cannot do safely. That list is your real kit.
- Find out from your municipality how outage information is broadcast in your area — and write the channel on a sticky note. Phone batteries die; sticky notes do not.
Personalise YOUR short outage kit — 90 seconds
The list above is the universal half. The wizard asks 6 short questions about your home, household and climate, then adjusts the items and quantities.
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