For a prolonged power outage, keep drinking water, non-perishable food, battery-powered light, a way to receive alerts, backup phone charging, first-aid and sanitation supplies, and essential medicines. FEMA’s baseline is at least three days of supplies; plan for longer if your household, local conditions, or likely outage duration call for it. Give special attention to powered medical equipment, refrigerated medicine, infants, pets, and safe food storage.
Start with supplies for at least three days
FEMA recommends one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, and at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. These are baseline amounts, not a guarantee that three days will cover a prolonged outage. Increase them to suit the number of people and pets in your home, expected outage length, sanitation needs, and local circumstances. FEMA’s basic kit guidance is a starting point for tailoring the list.
Water and food
- Store drinking water for each household member and account for pets and additional sanitation needs.
- Choose food that does not need refrigeration or extensive preparation. Include a manual can opener if you rely on canned food, along with utensils.
- Keep food and water in a location you can reach if the power is out. Check expiration dates and rotate supplies as appropriate.
First aid, tools, and sanitation
FEMA’s basic checklist includes a first-aid kit, whistle, dust mask, plastic sheeting and duct tape, moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties, and a wrench or pliers. Add soap and any personal hygiene items your household relies on. The checklist is not one-size-fits-all: include supplies for your household’s specific needs.
Keep information, light, and phones available
Alerts and communication
Keep a battery-powered or hand-crank radio that can receive NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts, with spare batteries if it uses them. A radio can provide information when internet access or mobile service is unavailable. FEMA also recommends keeping phones charged before severe weather and having an alternative charging method. Choose a power bank based on the devices you need to charge and how many; there is no single capacity that suits every household. See FEMA’s disaster-planning guidance for its recommendations on preparedness and phone charging.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
Safe lighting and alarms
Keep flashlights or battery-powered lanterns and spare batteries where you can find them in the dark. FEMA advises using battery-powered lights rather than candles because of fire risk. Keep smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms working, with battery backup on every level and near sleeping areas, as described in FEMA’s 2025 power-outage hazard information sheet.
Protect food and medicine when the power fails
Refrigerator and freezer
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. FEMA’s 2025 power-outage sheet says a refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours and a full freezer for about 48 hours; actual conditions can vary. Keep a thermometer in each appliance so you can check temperatures. Discard refrigerated food that has been at 40°F or higher for more than four hours, as well as food with an unusual odor, color, or texture. FEMA’s advice is: “When in doubt, throw it out!”
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Medication and powered medical equipment
If a household member uses powered medical equipment or assistive technology, discuss backup power and a possible relocation plan with their clinician or care team before an outage. Keep essential medicines and medical information easy to find. For medicine that requires refrigeration, ask the prescribing doctor or pharmacist what to do if it has been at room temperature; safe handling depends on the specific medicine, so do not assume one rule applies to all drugs.
Adapt the kit to everyone in your household
Set aside supplies that are easy to overlook when planning for a generic household:
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
- Infants and children: formula, diapers, and other daily essentials.
- Pets and service animals: food, water, and any necessary care supplies.
- Individual needs: prescription medicines, glasses, assistive devices, and other items someone needs each day.
- Documents: copies of important records in a portable, protected place.
Before an outage, identify which daily needs depend on electricity and how you will meet them if power is unavailable for several days.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use generators and fuel-burning equipment safely
A generator is a conditional backup-power option, not a requirement for every household. Its usefulness depends on which appliances you need to run, fuel and runtime planning, and whether you can operate it safely. Plan which appliances are essential because a generator may not power everything at once.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
FEMA’s 2025 power-outage guidance says generators, camp stoves, and charcoal grills must be used outdoors, at least 20 feet from building openings such as windows, doors, or garages. Never use a gas stovetop, oven, grill, or dryer to heat your home. Do not run a vehicle inside a garage, even with the door open. Store fuel safely. Battery-powered light, phone charging, food planning, and medical contingency plans remain important whether or not you have a generator.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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