The covered porch is still inside for carbon monoxide
A covered porch counts as indoors for carbon monoxide. Learn the 20-foot rule, safe generator placement, and how to set up CO alarms.
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A CO alarm on every floor before the first outage night
Check that every floor and sleeping area has a battery-backup CO alarm, placed and tested, before the first winter power outage.
Bluetti Elite 100 vs Jackery Explorer 1000 for home outage backup
Bluetti Elite 100 vs. Jackery Explorer 1000 compared on runtime, solar charging, and price, with a clear pick for keeping a home running through an outage.
How to label and store Mylar bags so you know what's inside
Learn what to write on Mylar food bags, which pens last, and how to store dry food with oxygen absorbers so you can rotate it safely.
When do you need oxygen absorbers for food storage?
Which foods benefit from oxygen absorbers, which don't need them, and which are unsafe with them. Includes sizing and a pre-sealing checklist.
October Saturday: start the generator, test the alarm, cover the hose bib
Use one Saturday before the first freeze to start your generator, test smoke and CO alarms, and disconnect, drain, and cover outdoor faucets.
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.
Falling trees in Midwest storms: how to stay safe at home and in the car
Where to shelter at home, in a car, and outdoors when a severe storm drops trees, plus what to do with power lines and insurance claims afterward.
Power Out? How Long Fridge and Freezer Food Stays Safe
Discover how long food stays safe in a power outage, how to extend that time with a cooler, and exactly what to throw out.
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.
Emergency Cash: How Much and Where to Keep It
How much emergency cash to keep for an outage, why small bills matter, where to store it at home, and what FDIC insurance does and doesn't cover.
Sanitation and Hygiene When the Water Is Off
How to set up a bucket toilet, mix bleach correctly for each job, wash hands with a jug of water, and handle trash when the taps go dry.