How to Survive a Week-Long Power Outage: The Complete Checklist

The First Hour: What to Do the Moment the Power Goes Out

Most people lose the first hour to confusion. Experienced outage survivors use it for the most important tasks — the ones that become impossible or much harder once time has passed and you've depleted your resources.

The moment power fails, do these things in order:

1. Check if it's your house or the whole neighbourhood. Look outside. If neighbours have lights, the issue is your panel or meter. If the whole street is dark, it's a utility outage. Call your utility's automated outage line (not 911) to report and get an estimated restoration time. Hydro One's outage line is 1-800-434-1235.
2. Fill your bathtubs, pots, and every large container with water — right now. If you have a well pump, you have no water once the pressure tank depletes (usually 10–30 minutes). City water stays pressurized longer, but even municipal systems can lose pressure during extended outages. Don't wait. Fill everything.
3. Close every door in your home. Heat is your most precious resource in winter. Close interior doors to trap warmth in the rooms you'll occupy. If it's summer, close blinds on the sunny side to keep heat out.
4. Don't open the fridge or freezer. Every time you open them, you lose cold air. A full fridge stays safe for 4 hours — but only if you keep the door closed. A chest freezer can hold temperature for 48 hours or longer if you leave it sealed.
5. Grab your flashlights, headlamps, and battery banks. Don't use candles as your primary light source in the first 24 hours — save them for backup when batteries run low.
6. Charge every device, including portable battery banks, if you have a vehicle. USB charging via your car's 12V outlet works even without generator power.

According to Ready.gov, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency's public preparedness portal, most households underestimate outage duration. The national median outage in North America has been rising — storms that once knocked power out for 24 hours now regularly produce 4–7 day events in rural areas.

Water: Your Most Critical Survival Resource

Water fails silently. There's no drama — you simply turn on a tap and nothing comes out. For the roughly 20% of rural Ontario households on private wells, a power outage means no running water immediately. Municipal water customers have more time, but extended outages can deplete reservoir pressure within 24–48 hours if demand outstrips the utility's backup power.

How much water do you need?

• Drinking: 1 litre per person per day minimum (2 litres in hot weather or physical exertion)
• Sanitation (hand washing, teeth brushing): 2–3 litres per person per day
• Cooking and food prep: 1–2 litres per day
• Toilet flushing: 7–12 litres per flush — you can pour water directly into the bowl to force a gravity flush without power
• Pets: 60–120ml per kilogram of body weight per day

For a comfortable week-long outage for two adults and one dog (30 kg), you need approximately 90–100 litres of water. A standard bathtub holds 150–200 litres. Fill it the moment the power goes out.

The Government of Canada's household emergency guide recommends storing 2 litres of water per person per day in sealed, food-safe containers as a baseline preparedness measure. For a week-long event, that's 28 litres for two people — before toilet flushing, cooking, or pets.

Water sources during a prolonged outage:

• Your bathtub water bladder: WaterBOB or AquaPodKit — inexpensive bladder that fits in a standard tub and holds 100 gallons of clean, potable water. If you only buy one preparedness item, this is it ($30–$50).
• Running your well pump with a generator: If you have a generator rated for your pump's surge wattage, you can fill all your containers and replenish daily. Our guide on how to size a generator for your home covers exactly what wattage you need for well pumps specifically — a ½ HP pump needs at least 2,500W of surge capacity.
• Rainwater collection: Legal in Ontario for non-potable use. Collect from your downspout into clean containers. Boil before drinking.
• Nearby streams or lakes: Raw water must be filtered and boiled (1 minute at a rolling boil) or treated with water purification tablets before drinking.
• Purchased water: If the outage is localized, nearby towns may have gas stations or grocery stores with power. Stock up early — water shelves clear within hours of any major outage announcement.

Food Safety and 7-Day Meal Planning

The cardinal rule of food during a power outage: eat in the right order. Refrigerated items first (within 4 hours), then freezer items (within 48 hours with the door sealed), then canned and shelf-stable foods for the rest of the week.

The Canadian Red Cross recommends a minimum 72-hour supply of non-perishable food for every household as baseline preparedness. For a week-long outage, you need 7 days. Here's how to think about each phase:

Hours 0–4 (refrigerator phase): Cook and eat the most perishable items — raw meat, dairy, deli meats, leftover cooked food. If you have a gas range, you can still cook without power. If you have an electric stove, now is when a single-burner propane camp stove earns its keep. Check the internal temperature of cooked food before eating — anything that sat above 4°C (40°F) for more than 2 hours is in the USDA danger zone and should be discarded.

Hours 4–48 (freezer phase): A packed chest freezer maintains a safe temperature for up to 48 hours if kept sealed. An upright freezer, which lets cold air fall out when opened, holds for 24–36 hours. You can extend this by adding bags of ice or dry ice, or by moving freezer items outdoors in winter if temperatures are below 0°C. Start cooking and eating freezer items as they begin to thaw.

Days 3–7 (shelf-stable phase): This is where advance preparation matters. Your pantry should contain: canned proteins (beans, tuna, chicken, sardines), canned vegetables and fruits, peanut butter, crackers, instant oatmeal, pasta and rice (if you have a camp stove), granola bars, nuts, and comfort items like instant coffee and hot chocolate. Each adult needs approximately 2,000 calories per day.

Cooking without power:

• Propane camp stove (2-burner): Best option. Use outdoors or in a well-ventilated space.
• Gas BBQ: Excellent for large-batch cooking. Keep a full spare tank.
• Wood stove or fireplace: Can cook on the surface or over the fire with cast iron cookware.
• Solar cooker: Effective in summer if you have 4+ hours of direct sunlight.
• Generator-powered microwave or electric hotplate: Draws 600–1,500W — manageable on most generators.

Heat, Cooling, and Managing Indoor Temperature

In Ontario, a week-long winter outage without heat is life-threatening. Hypothermia sets in when indoor temperatures fall below 10°C — which can happen within 24 hours during a January ice storm if your home is not well-insulated.

Heating during a power outage:

• Gas or propane furnace with a generator: This is the best solution for most Ontario homes. Your furnace burns gas, but the blower motor and electronic ignition need electricity. A generator rated for the blower's starting wattage (typically 800–2,400W starting) will run your furnace normally. Check out our picks for the best portable generators for home backup — the right unit will handle your furnace, fridge, and well pump simultaneously.
• Wood stove or fireplace: The gold standard for off-grid heating. No electricity needed. Requires a supply of dry firewood and a properly maintained flue. If you don't have one, a week-long outage is a compelling argument for installing one.
• Propane or kerosene space heater: Effective but requires ventilation. Never use a catalytic propane heater in a sealed room without cracking a window. Carbon monoxide from even "indoor-safe" heaters can accumulate in tightly sealed modern homes.
• Passive conservation: Hang heavy blankets over windows and exterior doors. Consolidate everyone to one or two rooms. Body heat from people (and pets) contributes meaningfully to warming a small space.

Cooling during a summer power outage:

Heat emergencies are equally dangerous. The elderly and young children are most vulnerable to heat stroke when AC is unavailable. Strategies include: cool, damp cloths on the back of the neck and wrists; battery-powered fans; basements (naturally 10–15°C cooler in summer); and cooling centres opened by municipalities during heat emergencies. Check the Ontario Emergency Preparedness portal for your local cooling centre locations.

Backup Power: Generators, Battery Systems, and Solar

A week-long outage reveals whether your backup power strategy is real or theoretical. Here's an honest assessment of each option at the seven-day mark:

Portable gas or dual-fuel generator: The workhorse of extended outage power. A 5,500–7,500W dual-fuel unit can run your furnace blower, refrigerator, freezer, well pump, lights, and phone charging simultaneously — and switch to propane when your gasoline runs low. The constraint at seven days is fuel: a 7,500W generator running at 50% load burns about 0.7 gallons per hour, or roughly 100 gallons per week. You need either a large propane tank, a fuel rotation plan, or both. Before choosing a unit, read our detailed guide on sizing a generator for your home — buying the wrong wattage is the most expensive mistake you can make.

Standby generator (natural gas): The only solution with truly unlimited fuel during a week-long event, assuming your utility's gas line remains intact (it almost always does during power outages — gas and electricity are separate systems). A 16–22kW Generac or Kohler standby unit starts automatically, runs your whole home, and burns from your natural gas supply at no additional infrastructure cost. Cost: $5,000–$10,000 installed. If you own a rural property and rely on it year-round, this is the right investment.

Portable power station / battery backup: Units like the EcoFlow Delta Pro (3.6 kWh), Jackery Explorer 2000 Pro, or Bluetti AC300 excel at powering sensitive electronics, CPAP machines, lights, phone chargers, and small appliances for 12–48 hours on a single charge. For seven days, you need either solar recharging or a generator to top them up. A 200–400W solar panel array can add 600–1,200 Wh per day in good sun — enough to keep the battery station viable indefinitely in summer. If you're evaluating this option, our review of the best whole-house battery backup systems compares capacity, recharge times, and real-world outage performance. For solar-specific options, see our best solar generators for 2026.

Communication and Staying Informed

During an extended outage, information is power — literally. Knowing whether restoration is expected in 12 hours or 5 days changes every decision you make about fuel, food, and whether to evacuate.

Battery-powered or hand-crank weather radio: The single most important communication device during a grid-down event. AM and FM radio stations broadcast emergency updates, restoration estimates, and evacuation orders even when internet and cell networks are congested. An Environment and Climate Change Canada weather radio with SAME alerts will sound an alarm for your specific county when warnings are issued. Cost: $25–$80.

Cell phones: Your cell network will be congested immediately after a major outage — everyone is trying to call at the same time. Text messages have higher delivery rates than voice calls under network congestion. Keep your phones charged via car USB, your battery power station, or generator. Consider a dual-SIM phone or a cheap pay-as-you-go SIM from a second carrier for redundancy.

Social media and utility apps: Hydro One, Ottawa Hydro, and other Ontario utilities have outage maps and apps that provide real-time estimated restoration times by address. Download your utility's app before outage season. These are often more current than calling the outage line.

Community check-ins: Designate a contact outside your immediate area who has power. Check in with them daily. If they don't hear from you, they can alert authorities. This is especially important for single-person households and elderly residents.

Carbon Monoxide and Fire Safety: The Invisible Killers

More people die from CO poisoning and fire during power outages than from the direct effects of the storm or outage event. These deaths are entirely preventable.

Carbon monoxide rules:

• Never run a gas generator inside a garage, shed, breezeway, or any enclosed space — even with doors open
• Place the generator at least 6 metres (20 feet) from any window, door, or vent, with exhaust pointed away from the house
• Never use a gas range, camp stove, charcoal BBQ, or outdoor propane heater indoors for heating
• Install battery-powered CO detectors on every level, including the basement — test them monthly
• If your CO alarm sounds, get everyone out and call 911 from outside — CO displaces oxygen quickly

Fire safety:

• If using candles, never leave them unattended or in a room with children or pets
• Keep a fire extinguisher accessible near any alternative heat source
• Maintain 3 feet of clearance around space heaters and wood stove surfaces
• Check your chimney was cleaned before using a wood stove or fireplace — creosote buildup causes chimney fires
• When power is restored, don't reconnect the generator while the transfer switch is still set to generator mode — electrocution and fire risk

Medical Devices and Special Needs

If anyone in your household depends on electricity for medical care — a CPAP machine, oxygen concentrator, insulin refrigeration, motorized wheelchair, or home dialysis equipment — a power outage is a medical emergency that requires advance planning, not improvisation.

Register with your utility. Most Ontario utilities maintain a medical priority customer registry — if you have a life-sustaining electrical device, you may be prioritized for restoration or receive advance notification of planned outages. Contact your utility's customer service line to register.

CPAP machines: Draw 30–60W and run 8–10 hours per night. A mid-size portable power station (500–1,000 Wh) can run a CPAP for 2–4 nights. Many CPAP manufacturers sell 12V DC adapters that run directly from a car battery or battery bank. This is one of the best uses for a solar generator during an extended outage.

Insulin and temperature-sensitive medications: Insulin remains potent for 28 days at room temperature (up to 25°C / 77°F) once opened. During a power outage, keep it in the coolest room in the house rather than the warming fridge. A small insulated bag with a reusable ice pack is sufficient for several days. For week-long outages, contact your pharmacist about emergency supplies.

Oxygen concentrators: These draw 150–600W continuously and cannot be powered by a standard portable battery station for more than a few hours. A generator is essential. Contact your home oxygen provider immediately during a major outage — they often have emergency protocols and portable oxygen cylinder delivery for existing customers.

The Complete 7-Day Power Outage Checklist

Print this and keep it in your emergency kit.

Hour 1

• ☐ Report outage to utility (not 911) and note estimated restoration time
• ☐ Fill all bathtubs and large containers with water immediately
• ☐ Close all interior doors to trap heat (or cool air)
• ☐ Don't open the fridge or freezer
• ☐ Deploy flashlights and headlamps — avoid candles initially
• ☐ Charge phones and battery banks via car USB
• ☐ Set up battery-powered weather radio

Hours 1–4

• ☐ Deploy generator outdoors (6m+ from windows) or battery power station
• ☐ Connect fridge, freezer, and furnace blower to backup power first
• ☐ Cook and eat the most perishable fridge items
• ☐ Check on vulnerable neighbours (elderly, families with infants)
• ☐ Establish daily check-in contact outside your area
• ☐ Install or test battery CO detectors near generator and any alternative heat

Days 1–2

• ☐ Monitor fuel level and plan resupply if restoration ETA is 3+ days
• ☐ Cook and eat freezer items before they thaw (or if outage ETA exceeds 48 hours)
• ☐ Inventory shelf-stable food supplies and ration for 7 days if needed
• ☐ Monitor indoor temperature — evacuate if temperature drops below 10°C and you have no alternative heat
• ☐ Run generator 8–12 hours per day on a schedule (not 24/7) to conserve fuel

Days 3–5

• ☐ Continue daily utility app / radio check for restoration estimate
• ☐ Replenish water if using a generator-powered well pump — fill all containers
• ☐ Check on any elderly or medically vulnerable people in your area
• ☐ Dispose of any food that has been above 4°C for more than 2 hours
• ☐ Evaluate fuel supplies — at 50% remaining, start planning resupply or rationing

Days 6–7

• ☐ Final fuel inventory — do you have enough to sustain until restoration?
• ☐ Re-evaluate evacuation decision if fuel, water, or heat are running low
• ☐ Document any property damage for insurance while evidence is fresh
• ☐ When power returns: turn off generator before switching from generator to grid power
• ☐ Restock depleted supplies before the next outage season

When to Evacuate

Most people are better off sheltering in place during a power outage — roads may be icy, shelters are crowded, and the familiar risks of your own home are more manageable than unknown conditions elsewhere. But some situations require leaving.

Evacuate if:

• Indoor temperature is below 10°C and you have no viable alternative heat source
• A household member has a medical device that can't be sustained by your backup power
• You run out of potable water and cannot access more
• There is a safety hazard in your home (CO alarm, structural damage, flooding)
• Authorities have issued a mandatory evacuation order for your area
• You are running out of food and cannot resupply

Where to go: Your municipality will open designated emergency shelters — usually community centres, arenas, and schools. These are listed on your municipality's emergency page and broadcast on local radio. Have a go-bag packed with 72 hours of supplies, ID documents, medications, and pet carriers. Know your destination before you need it.

The Canadian Red Cross's power outage guide is an excellent reference for evacuation protocols and shelter locations across Canada.

The Honest Truth About Week-Long Outage Prep

Ontario had 9 major ice storms between 2013 and 2026. The 2013 ice storm left 300,000 Toronto-area households without power for up to 5 days. The January 2022 ice storm knocked out power to over 200,000 homes in Eastern Ontario, with some rural customers waiting 7–10 days for restoration. These events are not anomalies — they are the new normal as climate patterns intensify.

The households that came through those outages most comfortably had one thing in common: they'd made concrete decisions before the storm hit. They owned a generator (or a serious battery station), had stored water, had food that didn't require the fridge, and had a plan for heat. None of those preparations cost more than a few hundred dollars or a single weekend of effort.

The households that struggled had assumed the power would come back sooner. Don't make that assumption. Plan for seven days, hope for two.