Long-term food and backup power | Crisis-Ready Society

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Prepare

Build a home store of non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food and water to last two weeks.^{Red Cross}
Add baby formula, pet food and any special equipment household members with special needs rely on.^Canada
Keep a month of long-term prescription medicines at home, always using the oldest first.^{MCF Sweden}
Ask the device maker whether it can run on batteries or a generator, and tell your electricity company.^{US Food and Drug Admin}
Keep a camping stove and fuel so you can cook without electricity. Use it only outdoors, never inside the home or garage.^CDC
Get advice from a licensed electrician before buying or installing a backup generator.^Canada
Connect a generator to home wiring only through a transfer switch fitted by a qualified electrician.^{Red Cross}
Fit battery or battery-backup carbon monoxide alarms and test them every month.^{US Consumer Product Sa}

Keep fridge and freezer doors closed: a closed fridge keeps food cold about 4 hours, a full freezer about 48 hours (24 if half full).^CDC
Check your stored food every few weeks and eat the oldest cans first.^{USDA Food Safety and I}
Keep cans in a cool, dry place below 29°C (85°F), away from stoves, sinks and damp areas.^{USDA Food Safety and I}
After 4 hours without power, move perishables into a cooler with ice, at 4°C (40°F) or below.^CDC
If the outage may last long, get dry ice or block ice to keep the fridge cold.^CDC
Run a generator outdoors only, 6 metres (20 feet) from doors, windows and vents, never in a garage.^CDC
Use heavy-duty outdoor cords rated above the total load, with no cuts and all three prongs.^{Red Cross}
Switch off and cool the generator before refuelling, and store fuel in labelled safety cans outside living areas.^{US Consumer Product Sa}
Battery or solar-powered units give off no carbon monoxide, so they can be used inside, unlike generators.^Canada

Check fridge and freezer temperatures. Keep or refreeze food at 4°C (40°F) or below, discard the rest.^{US Department of Agric}
Throw out food with an odd smell, colour or texture, or that feels warm. Never taste it.^{US Department of Agric}
Discard cans that are bulging, leaking, deeply dented or heavily rusted.^{USDA Food Safety and I}
Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether refrigerated medicines are still safe to use.^{Red Cross}
Check that medical devices have not reset to default settings during the outage.^{US Food and Drug Admin}
Restock everything you used and check on vulnerable neighbours.^{Canadian Red Cross}
Replace food, water, batteries and medicines that may expire at least once a year.^Canada

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How do I get started with a longer food reserve and backup power?

Build a home store of non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food and water to last two weeks.^{Red Cross}
Add baby formula, pet food and any special equipment household members with special needs rely on.^Canada
Keep a month of long-term prescription medicines at home, always using the oldest first.^{MCF Sweden}
Ask the device maker whether it can run on batteries or a generator, and tell your electricity company.^{US Food and Drug Admin}

What are the key steps for a longer food reserve and backup power?

Keep fridge and freezer doors closed: a closed fridge keeps food cold about 4 hours, a full freezer about 48 hours (24 if half full).^CDC
Check your stored food every few weeks and eat the oldest cans first.^{USDA Food Safety and I}
Keep cans in a cool, dry place below 29°C (85°F), away from stoves, sinks and damp areas.^{USDA Food Safety and I}
After 4 hours without power, move perishables into a cooler with ice, at 4°C (40°F) or below.^CDC

How often should I review a longer food reserve and backup power?

Check fridge and freezer temperatures. Keep or refreeze food at 4°C (40°F) or below, discard the rest.^{US Department of Agric}
Throw out food with an odd smell, colour or texture, or that feels warm. Never taste it.^{US Department of Agric}
Discard cans that are bulging, leaking, deeply dented or heavily rusted.^{USDA Food Safety and I}

What should I have ready for a longer food reserve and backup power?

Answers are based only on the sourced steps on this page and their official sources.

Steps are written in our own words from these pages. If advice from your local authority differs, follow your local authority.

Last reviewed against these sources: 1 November 2026.