I Lived Through a 7-Day Power Outage

I Lived Through a 7-Day Power Outage. Here’s What I Wish I Had Known

Winter storms and hurricanes don’t just knock out power for a few hours. Sometimes, the lights go out and stay out. In 2024, our family lived through a full seven-day power outage. No lights. No AC. No hot water. No microwave. No coffee maker. No charging anything.

If you’re preparing for a storm this week, this guide will help you know what matters, what you’ll actually use, and what you’ll wish you had.

The Hidden Hard Part of a Long Power Outage

Most people imagine the hardest part being the darkness. For us, it was food. By day three, our entire freezer was soup. The fridge failed even faster. Restaurants were closed. Grocery stores were closed or sold out. For seven days, every meal became shelf-stable, no-cook, or grilled while the food still lasted.

If we face that again, I will buy more shelf-stable food than I think we need. A lot more.

Storm Prep Checklist: Do These Before the Power Goes Out

If the storm is on its way, these tasks matter most:

Do all laundry so everyone has clean clothes
Gather winter gear (hats, gloves, socks, warm layers, blankets) in one spot
Charge phones, laptops, power banks, flashlights, fans, and white noise machines
Fill the bathtub or bins with water (for flushing, rinsing, washing)
Freeze water bottles and bags flat (for coolers and fridge backup)
Lower fridge + freezer temps to the coldest setting
Insulate drafty windows + doors with towels or plastic sheeting
Fill your gas tank (gas stations may lose power)
Stock non-perishables, water, medications, baby supplies, pet food
Use labeled totes to organize categories (food, clothes, sleep gear, diapers)
Plan sleeping arrangements (one warm room is easier to heat)
Download movies + shows to devices (battery-powered sanity)
Gather comfort items for kids (favorites become coping tools)
Check on elderly neighbors or relatives

These tasks are boring until they become essential.

When the Power Goes Out: What Actually Helps

Once the lights go out, here’s what helped the most and what I wish we knew sooner:

Stay Warm + Safe
‍• Dress in layers (hat + gloves matter indoors)
• Use one warm central hangout room
• Never heat your home with ovens, grills, or camping stoves (carbon monoxide risk)
• Run generators outside and away from windows and doors
• Use fireplaces or stoves with proper ventilation

Protect Your Home
• Keep fridge/freezer closed to preserve food longer
• Let faucets drip to help prevent frozen pipes
• Know where your main water shut-off is
• Unplug sensitive electronics to avoid surges
• Leave one lamp on so you know when power returns

Keep People Functioning
• Eat regular meals (energy helps maintain body heat)
• Drink fluids (easy to forget when you’re cold + busy)
• Use a battery-powered radio for updates
• Conserve batteries + rotate power banks

What We Had and Were Grateful For

These items made the week dramatically easier:

Battery-powered lanterns (nighttime game changer)
Flashlights for every person (label them + add lanyards)
Power banks (phones become flashlights, radios, clocks)
Extra batteries (for lanterns, radios, toys, etc.)
Battery-powered radio (real updates without internet)
Shelf-stable food (easy proteins + carbs matter)
Bottled water + water jugs (cooking + drinking)
Baby wipes + body wipes (morale boosters without hot water)
Paper plates + plastic cutlery (no dishwasher)
Manual can opener (sneaky essential)
White noise machines (battery powered) for sleep
Sleeping bags + warm base layers
First aid kit

What I Wished We Had

The minute power returned and I finally showered, I made this list:

• Big cooler with ice (save fridge food longer)
• Battery-powered fan (sleep was rough without airflow)
• Headlamps (hands-free lighting = peak efficiency)
• Battery-powered carbon monoxide detector (generator + fireplace safety)
• Totes of clothing layers per kid (no digging in dark closets)
• Air mattresses (so everyone can sleep in one warm room)
• More shelf-stable food than I thought we’d need

If I could go back in time, I would prep all of the above first. Here's our list for a disaster prep kit.

Preparing Kids for a Long Outage: Sanity Matters Too

Keeping kids warm and fed is one job. Keeping them sane is another. Here’s what worked (and what I’ll always do next time):

Gather board games, card games, and building toys
Include crafts, coloring, pretend play, and open-ended toys
Add books + book lights for quiet time
Stock a small “inventing bin” (boxes, tape, foil, string)
Download movies and shows ahead of time
Charge power banks fully (downloads drain battery fast)
Create a shared sleep + hangout room
Assign small “jobs” (refilling water, organizing flashlights)
Reset the room periodically (buys more focused time)
Use a camera (yes, the old-fashioned kind, these become memories)

And don’t forget the adults:

Take 5 minutes to decide what you need to stay calm and regulated.

Quick Reminder About Car Safety in Winter Storms

I’ll share a full storm-specific car safety checklist next, but here’s the most important truth:

The safest crash is the one that never happens.
If you don’t have to drive in a winter storm, don’t.

If you’re preparing for a winter storm or power outage, here are answers to the questions families ask most:

Q: How do you prepare your house for a winter storm power outage?
A: Focus on heat, food, water, and communication. Lower fridge and freezer temperatures, insulate drafty areas, gather warm clothing and blankets, stock non-perishable food and bottled water, charge devices and power banks, fill bathtubs with water, and download entertainment for kids. Plan to use one warm room to conserve heat.

Q: How long does food last in the fridge during a power outage?
A: A closed refrigerator keeps food safe for about 4 hours, while a full freezer can preserve food for 24 to 48 hours. Opening the doors shortens that timeline. Using a cooler with ice, or storing food outdoors in freezing temperatures, can extend storage time if done safely.

Q: What food should I buy before a winter storm?
A: Shelf-stable, no-cook, high-calorie foods work best. Examples include peanut butter, nuts, granola bars, tuna packs, crackers, oatmeal cups, beef sticks, applesauce cups, and canned soups with pop tops. For babies and toddlers, include formula, pouches, shelf-stable milk, and snacks.

Q: How do you keep kids warm if the power goes out?
A: Use layered clothing including hats and socks, consolidate the family into one warm room, and use sleeping bags or blankets to reduce heat loss. Shared body heat makes a noticeable difference, especially for babies and young children.

Q: Is it safe to use a gas oven or stove to heat the house during a power outage?
A: No. Never use ovens, grills, camping stoves, or fuel-burning heaters to heat your home due to carbon monoxide risks. Use fireplaces or wood stoves only with proper ventilation and consider a battery-powered carbon monoxide detector for safety.

Q: Where should a generator be placed during a storm?
A: Generators must be operated outside, far from windows, doors, garages, and vents. Never run them indoors or in attached garages due to carbon monoxide dangers.

Q: How do you keep pipes from freezing without power?
A: Let faucets drip, open cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air circulation, and use towels or insulation on vulnerable pipes. Know the location of your main water shut-off valve in case a pipe bursts.

Q: What should I do about bathing and hygiene without hot water?
A: Use baby wipes, body wipes, or dry shampoo to maintain basic hygiene. If running water is available, do quick sink baths focusing on hands, face, underarms, and bathroom areas. Morale matters during multi-day outages.

Q: What activities keep kids occupied during a long power outage?
A: Open-ended, no-power activities work best: board games, card games, pretend play, building toys, crafts, puzzles, sticker books, and reading with book lights. Downloaded movies and shows help while devices retain battery.

Q: Is it safe to drive during a winter storm?
A: If possible, avoid driving. Snow and ice reduce control and visibility and increase the risk of collisions or becoming stranded. If travel is unavoidable, pack blankets, gloves, snacks, water, and phone chargers, and share your route with someone.

Q: How much water should I store for emergencies?
A: Store at least one gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation. Babies, nursing mothers, and pets may require more.

Q: How do you make sleep easier during a power outage?
A: Use battery-powered white noise machines, lanterns, flashlights, sleeping bags, and warm layers. Many families sleep in the same room to retain heat and simplify bedtime routines.

Q: Should I check on neighbors during a power outage?
A: Yes. Check on elderly neighbors, families with infants, and individuals with medical needs to ensure they have heat, hydration, and safe conditions.