Life Rewired

A blackout can happen anywhere, anytime, without notice — and when it happens, no one knows how long they may be without power. But when the lights go out, panic shouldn’t be your first reaction. Monday’s sweeping blackout across Spain and Portugal — now referred to as “Dark Monday” — was a powerful reminder that modern life can be brought to a halt in seconds. And while we can’t predict every outage, we can prepare for them.

Here’s a simple, Readovia-approved checklist to help you stay safe and steady for at least 3 days without power. Add more items and make it your own. 

Power Outage Preparedness Checklist

1. Light Sources

• Flashlights with extra batteries
• Battery-powered lanterns (safer than candles)
• Solar-powered lights or hand-crank flashlights
• Candles (if you are including lighters, please store safely away from children)

2. Food & Water

• Canned goods (and a manual can opener)
• Dry snacks (granola bars, crackers, trail mix)
• At least 1 gallon of water per person per day (aim for 3-day supply)

3. Communication

• Fully charged power banks for phones
• Battery-powered emergency radio (with extra batteries)
• Paper list of emergency contacts

4. Heating & Cooling

• Blankets and warm clothing (for cold-weather outages)
• Battery-operated fans or cooling towels (for hot climates)

5. First Aid & Medications

• Stocked first aid kit
• At least 3-day supply of prescription meds
• Personal hygiene items (wet wipes, sanitizer, toothpaste, etc.)

6. Cash on Hand

• Cash in small bills — ATMs and card readers may be down during blackouts

7. Home Readiness

• Know how to manually open your garage door
• Surge protectors or unplugging devices to avoid damage
• Backup power source, like a generator (used safely outdoors)

8. Fuel

Keep your gas tank at least half full.

Bonus Tip: Have a blackout box, bag, or backpack

• Designate one bin or bag for essentials — flashlight, batteries, radio, etc. — and store it where it’s easy to reach in the dark.