A One-Drawer Outage Kit
Original preparedness explainer · Reviewed as a draft October 29, 2026 · General U.S. guidance
You do not need a television-ready bunker to find a flashlight. Make an obvious drawer or basket for essential tools that are used in the dark.
Include battery lights, spare batteries, a paper list of contacts, charging cables and a battery pack. Check each device periodically.
Make sure every household member can find the kit without opening ten cabinets.
Prepare battery-powered lighting, charging options, food-safety supplies and a plan for medical equipment that needs electricity. Never run a generator, charcoal grill or camp stove indoors or in an attached garage.
Put this into action
Choose one manageable improvement today. Confirm current warnings and local instructions with your city/county emergency management agency and the National Weather Service.