12 Essential Survival Supplies for a Power Grid Failure & Recommendations

12 Essential Survival Supplies and Where To Get Them Now

When the power grid goes down, having the right supplies can make a significant difference in safety, comfort, and survival. Here are 12 essential survival items and why they are needed:

1. Water Storage & Filtration

Why? Access to clean water may be disrupted. Store at least one gallon per person per day and have a water filter (e.g., LifeStraw or Berkey) for purification.
The municipal water supply may stop working, leaving you without clean drinking water.
Water treatment plants rely on electricity to function; contamination can become a major concern.
People require at least one gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation.

Where to find: https://amzn.to/4b7rn4r

Recommended Items:

Store bottled water or large water containers (e.g., 5-gallon jugs).
Water purification methods, such as LifeStraw, Berkey filters, or water purification tablets.
Rainwater collection barrels as a backup water source.

2. Non-Perishable Food

Why It’s Needed:
Refrigerators and freezers stop working after a power failure, causing perishable food to spoil within hours or days.
Grocery stores may be closed or quickly emptied due to panic buying.
Having a stockpile of food ensures survival during extended blackouts.

Recommended Items:
Canned goods (soups, vegetables, meats, beans).
Freeze-dried meals and emergency ration bars.
Shelf-stable foods like rice, pasta, peanut butter, and granola bars.
A manual can opener to access canned goods.
Where to find: https://amzn.to/41jif9E

3. Emergency Lighting (Flashlights & Lanterns)

Why? Without electricity, visibility is crucial for safety. Battery-powered, solar, or crank lanterns and flashlights help navigate the dark.
Why It’s Needed:
Without power, homes, streets, and buildings will be completely dark, increasing safety risks.
Light is necessary for movement at night, cooking, and security.
Candles can be a fire hazard, so safer alternatives are needed.

Recommended Items:
Battery-powered or rechargeable LED lanterns.
Flashlights with extra batteries or solar-powered models.
Where to find: https://amzn.to/4i4tyrD

4. Batteries & Power Banks

Why? Essential for keeping flashlights, radios, and small devices powered when outlets are unavailable. Solar chargers are a great backup.
Why It’s Needed:
Many essential devices (radios, flashlights, medical equipment) require batteries.
Smartphones and other communication devices will run out of battery quickly.
Solar or hand-crank chargers provide an off-grid power solution.
Recommended Items:
A large supply of AA and AAA batteries.
High-capacity power banks to charge devices.
A solar panel charger for sustainable energy.
Where to find: https://amzn.to/4hIGBzp

5. Alternative Cooking Source

Why? Stoves and microwaves won’t work. A propane stove, camp stove, or rocket stove allows for food preparation. Store extra fuel safely.
Why It’s Needed:
Electric stoves and microwaves won’t function.
Cooking food is essential, eating only cold food for an extended period can be unpleasant and unhealthy.
A safe alternative is necessary for boiling water and preparing meals.
Recommended Items:
Portable propane or butane camping stove.
Rocket stove (uses small sticks as fuel).
Solar oven for cooking with sunlight.
Extra fuel canisters or firewood.
Where to find: https://amzn.to/40X78l6

6. First Aid Kit & Medications

Why? In an emergency, medical facilities may be overwhelmed. A fully stocked first aid kit with bandages, antiseptics, and essential medications can be life-saving.
Why It’s Needed:
Medical emergencies can still happen, and hospitals may be overwhelmed or inaccessible.
Pharmacies may be closed, making it impossible to refill prescriptions.
Minor injuries could become severe without proper care.
Recommended Survival Supplies:
A well-stocked first aid kit with bandages, antiseptics, pain relievers, and wound dressings.
Prescription medications with at least a 30-day supply.
Over-the-counter medications like antihistamines, anti-diarrheal pills, and cold medicine.
Where to find: https://amzn.to/3ETv4OW

7. Warm Clothing & Blankets

Why? If the power grid fails in winter, heating systems will be down. Layered clothing, thermal blankets, and sleeping bags provide warmth.
Why It’s Needed:
If the power goes out during winter, heating systems will no longer function.
Hypothermia can set in quickly in cold temperatures, especially for children and the elderly.
Extra layers help retain body heat without electricity.
Recommended Items:
Thermal blankets and sleeping bags rated for low temperatures.
Layered clothing, including wool socks, gloves, and hats.
Mylar emergency blankets, which reflect body heat.
Where to find: https://amzn.to/433w90O

8. Fire-Starting Supplies (Lighters, Matches, Firewood)

Why? Essential for warmth, cooking, and emergency signaling. Keep waterproof matches and lighters, along with dry firewood if applicable.
Why It’s Needed:
Fire can be essential for warmth, cooking, and emergency signaling.
It provides an alternative heat source when electricity is unavailable.
Gas-powered appliances, such as fireplaces, may still work if you have a manual ignition method.
Recommended Items:
Waterproof matches or stormproof lighters.
Fire-starting kits, such as flint and steel or fire-starting cubes.
Dry firewood or charcoal for wood stoves and fire pits.
Where to find: https://amzn.to/4gGQiNm

9. Manual Can Opener

Why? Canned food is useless without a way to open it. A manual can opener ensures access to stored food supplies.
Why It’s Needed:
Many emergency food supplies come in cans, which are useless without a way to open them.
Electric can openers won’t work, so a reliable manual tool is necessary.
Recommended Items:
A heavy-duty manual can opener.
Multi-tool with a built-in can opener as a backup.
Where to find: https://amzn.to/3CXBImQ

10. Communication Devices (Battery-Powered or Crank Radio)

Why? Cell towers may go down. A NOAA weather radio provides important updates and emergency alerts. Walkie-talkies can help with short-distance communication.
Why It’s Needed:
Cell towers may be down, making smartphones unreliable.
A NOAA weather radio provides crucial updates on storms, rescue efforts, and safety alerts.
Walkie-talkies allow for short-distance communication when phone lines are unavailable.
Recommended Items:
Battery-operated or hand-crank emergency radio.
Two-way radios (walkie-talkies) for family communication.
Extra batteries or solar-powered charging options.
Where to find: https://amzn.to/3CXgVQg

11. Personal Hygiene & Sanitation Supplies

Why? Water shortages can make hygiene difficult. Stock toilet paper, baby wipes, hand sanitizer, and biodegradable soap to maintain cleanliness.
Why It’s Needed:
Water shortages or plumbing failures can make it difficult to maintain hygiene.
Poor sanitation can lead to illness and disease outbreaks.
Waste disposal may be limited, requiring alternative solutions.
Recommended Items:
Toilet paper, wet wipes, and hand sanitizer.
Biodegradable soap and dry shampoo.
Trash bags and portable toilet solutions (e.g., bucket toilet with disposable liners).
Where to find: https://amzn.to/3Qn1Fz8

12. Self-Defense & Security Items

Why? In long-term outages, looting or crime may increase. Pepper spray, a whistle, or a legally owned firearm (where applicable) can provide security for survival.
Why It’s Needed:
In prolonged outages, looting and crime rates may increase.
Without law enforcement assistance, personal safety becomes a higher priority.
Having basic security tools can provide peace of mind and protection.
Recommended Items:
Pepper spray or a personal alarm.
A whistle to alert others in case of danger.
A legally owned firearm (if permitted and properly trained).
Reinforced locks and security bars for windows and doors.
Where to find: https://amzn.to/4i2W7WC

Final Thoughts

A power grid failure can last for hours, days, or even weeks in an emergency. Making preparation is essential. These 12 survival supplies cover the most critical needs—water, food, warmth, safety, and communication. By gathering these items in advance, you can ensure you and your family remain safe, secure, and comfortable during an extended power outage.