Build an outage kit before you need it

Summer in Oregon brings plenty of great things: longer days, lake trips, evenings outside. But it can also bring wildfire risk, extreme heat and the possibility of unexpected outages.

Creating an outage kit ahead of time can help your household feel a little more prepared and a little less stressed if the power goes out. And while an outage kit isn’t the same thing as a full emergency kit, it’s a great place to start.

Think of an outage kit as the basics you’d want on hand during a power outage. Things like flashlights, batteries, food and phone chargers. A full emergency kit goes a step further with supplies and plans for longer emergencies or evacuations.

If you’re not sure where to start, our Summer Outage Checklist offers a simple, printable guide with helpful tips for preparing your household before summer outages happen.

What should go in an outage kit?

Start with the basics you’d want on hand if the power was out for several hours or longer. That could include:

• Flashlights or battery-powered lanterns

• Extra batteries

• Portable phone chargers

• Bottled water (bonus tip: freeze water bottles and move them to your fridge in an outage to help keep things cool)

• Easy-to-prepare food and snacks

• A first aid kit

• Pet supplies

• Blankets or extra layers for cool nights

Toss an extra pack of batteries into your cart this week. Pick up a portable charger next time you’re at the store. You don’t have to have everything figured out for it to be helpful.

Ready.gov offers a great guide you can use to build your full emergency kit over time. And that’s the key, over time. You don’t have to gather everything in one afternoon.

Make it work for your household

The best outage kits are built for the people who will be using them.

Families with young kids may want comfort items or simple activities. Households with pets may need extra food, water or medications. If someone in your home relies on electricity for medical equipment , it’s important to think through backup power options and make a plan ahead of time.

It can also help to think through the small things people tend to forget about during outages, like keeping devices charged, having cash on hand or knowing where important phone numbers are if Wi-Fi or cell service goes down.

Don't forget to make a simple plan

An outage kit is a great place to start, but a quick conversation with your household can be just as valuable.

Think through a few basic questions ahead of time:

• How will you get updates if the power goes out?

• What will you do if an outage lasts longer than expected?

• Who will check on older relatives, neighbors or friends who may need extra support?

You don’t need a detailed emergency plan. Just knowing who will do what and where important supplies are kept can help lower stress if an outage happens.

An outage kit focuses on getting through a power outage comfortably and safely. Emergency preparedness can also include things like evacuation planning, important documents, longer-term food and water supplies, and communication plans for your household.

Looking for more ideas? Ready.gov’s emergency preparedness resources include practical tips for building a full emergency kit and making a household plan.

Taking a little time to prepare now can help you spend less time scrambling later and more time focusing on what brings you joy.