Quick Answer (What to Do First)

1. Safety check: confirm everyone is okay and check hazards.
2. Light first: use safe lighting (avoid fire risks).
3. Phone power plan: decide who gets charging priority.
4. Information check: verify what’s happening (locally) and estimate duration.
5. Comfort routine: simple food, calm activity, and early bedtime if needed.

Why Blackouts Feel Hard (and How to Make Them Easy)

Blackouts feel stressful because they remove multiple “invisible supports” at once: light, information, routine, charging, cooking, and comfort. The calm solution is a sequence you repeat every time.

Internal link idea: This is part of your broader 72-Hour Family Plan (No Panic) and fits into the 90-Day Resilience Plan.

The First Hour Checklist (No Panic)

When the lights go out, do this in order:

1. Safety first: check for hazards (smoke, unusual smells, broken glass).
2. Light up safely: use your planned safe lighting.
3. Confirm it’s not just your unit: check a hallway/common area if safe.
4. Information check: local utility updates, neighborhood info, or building management.
5. Set phone mode: low power mode; reduce unnecessary use.
6. Meal decision: choose a no-cook or simple plan.
7. Comfort routine: calm activity, reassure kids, and reduce anxiety.

Calm rule: avoid “doom scrolling.” Check updates periodically, not continuously.

Safe Lighting Plan

Lighting is your first comfort and safety win. Your goal: at least one safe light source in key areas.

Lighting zones

• Zone 1: kitchen / main living area
• Zone 2: bathroom
• Zone 3: bedrooms / sleeping area
• Zone 4: entryway / stairs (if applicable)

Storage rule

Put lighting where you can find it in the dark. Consistency matters more than quantity.

Safety note: Avoid fire risks. Use safe lighting choices appropriate to your household and local guidance.

Phone Charging Plan (Priority Rules)

In a blackout, people often waste phone power early and panic later. A calm plan fixes this.

Set a priority order

1. Primary caregiver(s): the person managing information and coordination
2. Medical needs: anyone who relies on communication for health or safety
3. Other adults: support roles
4. Kids: only if needed; use offline entertainment first

Simple phone power habits

• Enable low power mode
• Reduce screen brightness
• Turn off non-essential background apps
• Use messaging instead of long calls when possible

Internal link idea: See also: Phone Power Plan: Charging Strategy for Outages.

Food During a Blackout (Simple)

The best blackout food plan is boring: easy meals that don’t require complicated cooking.

Use this order

1. No-cook meals first (lowest stress)
2. Simple meals second (minimal heat, minimal cleanup)
3. Save complex cooking for when power is stable again

Internal link idea: Your pantry system makes blackouts easy. Read: Pantry Readiness Without Waste.

Fridge/Freezer: Calm Food-Safety Habits

When the power goes out:

• Keep fridge/freezer closed as much as possible.
• Group decisions: decide what you’ll eat first and what stays closed.
• Minimize openings: one person manages “fridge access” to reduce temperature loss.

Note: Food safety guidance can vary. Follow local public health recommendations for your location and situation.

Hygiene & Comfort

Blackouts feel worse when hygiene becomes frustrating. Keep it simple:

• Keep a small “blackout hygiene” kit accessible (soap, wipes or simple alternatives, basics)
• Have a plan for bathroom needs if water pressure changes
• Keep the household calm: comfort items matter

Internal link idea: See also: Hygiene During Disruption: The Simple Sanitation Plan.

Kids, Seniors, Pets: The Comfort Layer

Kids

• Use a calm tone: “We have a plan.”
• Give a small role (holding a flashlight, choosing a game).
• Offline entertainment beats screen time for battery saving.

Seniors & accessibility

• Prioritize mobility safety and lighting routes.
• Keep medications easy to find.
• Check in more often.

Pets

• Keep leashes/carriers accessible.
• Maintain water access and routine.
• Comfort items help (pets can get stressed too).

Apartment & Small-Space Blackout Plan

If you live in an apartment or high-rise:

• Know your stair routes (and where emergency exits lead).
• Lighting is priority #1 for stairs and bathrooms.
• Elevator assumptions: plan as if elevators won’t work.
• Neighbors: calm community coordination can help.

Internal link idea: See also: The One-Shelf Rule: Prepping in Small Spaces.

The “Minimal Gear” Approach

You don’t need a shopping spree. Most families do well with a minimal approach:

• Light: safe lighting in key rooms
• Power plan: a phone charging strategy
• Food: a no-cook meal option
• Comfort: blankets, simple entertainment, routine

Calm rule: systems first, upgrades later.

The Best Drill: Blackout Night

This is the most valuable, family-friendly preparedness drill.

How to run it

• Turn off lights for 60–90 minutes in the evening (safely).
• Use your planned lighting and phone power habits.
• Eat a simple meal based on pantry readiness.
• Play a game or read stories.
• Write down one improvement and fix it next week.

Result: confidence without fear.

FAQs

What’s the first thing I should do in a power outage?

Safety check, then safe lighting, then a phone power plan. After that, check reliable local updates and settle into a calm routine.

How do I keep my phone charged longer?

Use low power mode, reduce screen brightness, minimize background apps, and check updates periodically rather than constantly.

Should I open the fridge during a blackout?

Open it as little as possible. Assign one person to manage fridge access to reduce temperature loss and confusion.

How do I keep kids calm?

Use a predictable routine, give small roles, and use offline entertainment. Calm confidence from adults is the biggest factor.

Next Steps

After blackout readiness, your next high-value preparedness system is documents and recovery planning:

• Recommended next article (Article #8): Your Family Emergency Binder: Documents, Contacts, and Recovery
• Then: Family Communication Plan: How to Stay Connected When Systems Fail

Disclaimer: This content is for general educational purposes and does not replace local emergency guidance. Always follow local authorities and safety rules during outages.