guides

Practical, no-nonsense information for when the power goes out and for making sure you're ready before it does. No fearmongering. No survival fantasy. Just the stuff that actually matters when your lights go dark and nobody's coming to fix it quickly.

during an outage

• what to do when the power goes out Step-by-step, in order of priority. Written for 2 AM on your phone.
• how long does food last without power Fridge and freezer timelines. What to eat first, what to toss, and when.
• how to keep pipes from freezing without power Winter outage plus frozen pipes is a $10,000 problem. Here's how to prevent it.
• well water during a power outage No power means no water if you're on a well. Your options and how to prepare.

safety

• how to run a generator safely Carbon monoxide kills more people during outages than the outages themselves. Read this before you start a generator.

preparedness

• power outage kit Everything you need ready before the lights go out. The kit I keep and what I'd add if starting over.
• how to prepare for a hurricane Hurricane season preparedness focused on power and water. The stuff FEMA doesn't emphasize enough.
• how to prepare for a winter storm Winter storm prep. Heat, water, pipes, food. The checklist I wish I'd had my first year.

understanding the grid

• worst power outages in US history The grid's track record, from 1965 to Helene. The pattern is not encouraging.
• why is the power grid failing Aging infrastructure, increasing demand, worsening weather. The data behind the outages.
• off-grid living basics What off-grid actually means. What it costs. What nobody tells you.
• grid-down communication How to communicate when the power and cell towers are down. Radios, plans, and reality.

gear

• best emergency radio Crank radios, battery radios, NOAA weather alert. What I carry and what's worth buying.