BLACKOUT SURVIVAL CHECKLIST — PRINT & USE
THE SAVVY SURVIVALIST
2-Week Blackout Survival Checklist
What you’ll run out of first — and how to stay ahead when systems start failing.
PRINT THIS. Do not rely on your phone during a blackout.
Reality check: A two-week blackout is not just “no lights.” Food spoils, water access can fail, phones die, stores empty, fuel disappears, and communication gets harder fast.
FIRST 24 HOURS
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Confirm outage type (local vs widespread)
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Fill every container with water (bathtub, bottles, pots)
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Charge phones, radios, and power banks to 100%
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Set up lighting BEFORE dark (lanterns, headlamps)
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Keep fridge/freezer CLOSED (preserve food 24–48 hrs)
24–72 HOURS
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Eat refrigerated food before it spoils
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Start water rationing (minimum 1 gallon per person/day)
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Limit generator use to essential loads only
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Switch to backup lighting and preserve batteries
WEEK 1+
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Inventory all food, water, fuel, batteries, and meds
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Move to rationed meals if supplies are dropping
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Prioritize drinking water over hygiene
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Set a daily routine to reduce stress and mistakes
WHAT RUNS OUT FIRST
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Phone battery — communication dies first
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Refrigerated food — spoils within 24–48 hours
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Clean water — critical after 72 hours
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Fuel — generators and cooking options stop
DAILY BLACKOUT ROUTINE
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Morning: check water, food, batteries, weather
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Midday: recharge devices, cook, handle sanitation
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Evening: secure home, set lighting, conserve energy
STAY OR LEAVE — DECISION POINT
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Water supply drops below a safe level
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Medical needs cannot be maintained
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Temperature becomes unsafe: heat or cold
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Security risk increases around the home
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No reliable communication or updates
HOUSEHOLD NOTES / EMERGENCY INFO
People / Pets
Water on Hand
Fuel on Hand
Emergency Notes
Most people do not fail because of the outage. They fail because they wait too long to adapt.
Use this checklist early, not when you are already behind.
TheSavvySurvivalist.com
Build your full survival system — print this checklist and store it with your emergency supplies.