After Normal

Fridge-door plan

One page for the fridge door. In a blackout nobody can search the internet, so the plan has to be on the wall. It is free. Print it, fill in the lines in pen, and stick it up.

Back to the shop

Tip. Print on one sheet at 100% size. Fill in the lines together as a household, then check them twice a year. Your personal plan, matched to your home and country, is here.

If the power goes out

Stay calm. Do these first.

  1. Use a flashlight, not a candle. Candles start house fires.
  2. Keep the fridge and freezer doors shut. A closed fridge keeps food cold for about 4 hours. A full freezer holds for about 48 hours (24 hours if half full).
  3. Never run a generator, grill or camp stove indoors, in the garage or near a window. The fumes (carbon monoxide) can kill you without any smell.
  4. Stay well away from any fallen power line. Treat every wire as live and call the emergency number.
  5. Check on your neighbors, especially older people and anyone who uses powered medical equipment.
  6. Tell the power company your power is out. Do not assume they know. Text instead of calling to save your phone battery.

Write it in

Emergency number (US and Canada 911, UK 999, EU 112, Australia 000)

Power company outage number

Doctor and pharmacy

One person outside our area we all call or text

If we must leave, we meet at

FlashlightsRadio

Spare batteriesWater

Medical equipment that needs power, and our backup plan

After Normal. Free to print and share. General guidance only: follow your local authorities if their advice is different. Food timings from FoodSafety.gov (USDA). Fire, generator and power-line advice from Ready.gov (FEMA).