Be ready before it matters.
Plain answers for Midwest storms, outages and everyday emergencies. No fear, no gear hype: what to do, what to buy, and when.
7 chapters
The three kits every household needs
Printable checklist72-Hour Kit Checklist for Midwest FamiliesA practical 72-hour emergency kit for a Midwest household, built around the storms, blizzards and outages we actually get. What to pack, where to keep it, and how to keep it fresh.
Printable checklistBug-Out Bag ChecklistA bug-out bag is what you grab when you have to leave in minutes. What goes in it, what to leave out, and how to keep it light enough that you'll actually carry it.
Printable checklistBuilding a Real Home First-Aid KitThe little box of bandages under the sink won't cut it in a real emergency. What a real home first-aid kit holds, from bleeding control to medicines, and the training that matters more than the gear.Power & Backup: quick answers
01Power & BackupWill a Generator Run the Oven, Fridge and Slow Cookers on Thanksgiving?Most portable generators can run the fridge and slow cookers but not the oven. Here's how to plan a full Thanksgiving meal during an outage.How Long Will a Power Station Run a Refrigerator?
Learn how to calculate how long a 1,000, 2,000 or 3,600 Wh power station will run your fridge, with a simple formula and food-safety limits.
Read the guide →Dual Fuel vs Gasoline Generator: Which Is Better for Outages?
Dual fuel or gasoline generator for outages? See the power loss on propane, fuel storage tradeoffs, Midwest winter issues, and which to buy.
Read the guide →Is a Kerosene Heater Safe to Use Indoors When the Power Is Out?
Can you run a kerosene heater indoors during a power outage? Learn the CO and fire rules, fuel safety, state laws, and when to skip it.
Read the guide →What should you buy in October that you will want in a November outage?
Stock water, no-cook food, light, charging, a 7-day medication supply, fuel, CO alarms, and food-safety tools in October, before a November outage.
Read the guide →Can your backup power start a sump pump in a fall storm?
Discover whether your backup can start a sump pump when power fails, comparing battery backup, generators, power stations, and more.
Read the guide →Latest guides
01Power & BackupPower Out With the Turkey in the Oven? Your First 10 Minutes and How to Finish the Bird
01Power & BackupInverter Generator vs Conventional Generator for Home Backup
04Midwest ThreatsBook the Chimney Sweep Before You Light the First Fire This Fall
01Power & BackupPoint the exhaust away from your house and the neighbor’s
01Power & BackupThe covered porch is still inside for carbon monoxide
01Power & BackupA CO alarm on every floor before the first outage night