Starting Watts and Running Watts, on One Sheet
Why a generator that can run your fridge can't always start it. What starting and running watts mean, typical numbers for outage essentials, and how to add them up.
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Day Two With No Power: What in the Fridge Has to Go
The 4-hour fridge rule, the 48-hour full freezer, and the 40-degree line. What to keep, what to toss, and how to make your cold food last longer in an outage.
Old Gas in the Generator? Start It in October, Not During the Ice Storm
A generator that sat all summer with fuel in it may not start when you need it. A 30-minute October check: fuel, oil, spark plug, a test run under load, and the…
Your Neighbor's Generator and Your Bedroom Window
On a tight suburban lot, the generator next door can be closer to your bedroom than to theirs. How to bring it up, where generators should go on small lots, and the…
The CO Alarm Went Off. Leave First, Then Call
When a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, a lot of people open a window and go back to bed. What to do instead, the symptoms to know, and why an old alarm needs…
Where the Generator Goes When It's Raining (Hint: Not the Garage or the Porch)
Most generator carbon monoxide cases happen because somebody wanted to keep it dry. Why a covered porch or open garage still counts as inside, the 20-foot rule, and how to keep a…
Ice Storm Prep
Ice storms bring down trees and power lines across whole regions, and outages can last days. How to prepare the house, the yard and the family before freezing rain, and what to…
Film Your House Now: The Insurance Inventory
After a fire or storm, you'll be asked to list everything you lost. A 20-minute walk-through video now makes the claim faster and the payout fairer. How to do it right, and…
The Grab-and-Go Document Binder
After a fire, flood or evacuation, the hardest part is often proving who you are and what you own. What to put in a grab-and-go binder, where to keep the originals, and…
A Family Communication Plan That Works Without Cell Service
In a disaster, cell networks jam or go down. How to set up an out-of-area contact, meeting places, a paper contact list, and the texting trick that gets through when calls don't.
NOAA Weather Radios Explained
A weather radio wakes you up at 3 a.m. when a tornado warning is issued, even if your phone is dead or the cell network is down. How they work, how to…
Batteries: What to Buy, How to Store, When to Rotate
Dead batteries in a dark house are a classic outage mistake. Alkaline vs. lithium vs. rechargeable, how long each lasts on the shelf, how to store them safely, and how many to…