Shelter in Place Plan

14-Day Power Outage Checklist

How to get through two weeks without power at home, and how to decide when it is time to leave instead.

Checklist

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A two-week outage is rare but it does happen after major storms. Treat staying home as a choice you review every day. The Red Cross advises evacuating if your home is too hot or too cold, or if you rely on medical devices that need power.

Set a routine

  • Same time each day: check food, water, batteries, fuel and neighbours.
  • Listen to official updates at set times to save battery.
  • Agree who does what.

Generators

A generator can keep food cold and devices running, but it brings serious risk. Read generator safety before you start one.

Carbon monoxide warning. Generators, camp stoves, barbecues, charcoal, and kerosene or propane burners give off carbon monoxide, which you cannot see or smell and which can kill within minutes. Never use them indoors, or in a garage, basement, shed, tent or covered porch, even with doors and windows open. Outdoors, keep them at least 20 feet (6 m) from doors, windows and vents.

Never use a gas stove, oven or dryer to heat your home. Use flashlights rather than candles where you can.

Day 7 and day 14 check

Ask: Is the home still warm or cool enough? Is anyone’s health getting worse? Are water, food, fuel and medicine lasting? Are officials advising people to leave? If the answer is worrying, move somewhere safer.

Where to buy

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  • Water storage container, 7 gal / 26 L

    Reliance: Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon Rigid Water Container

    A rigid 7 gal (26 L) container sold for drinking water storage, so one jug covers several person-days.

    Check price at Amazon.comCheck price at Amazon.ca

  • Camp stove, outdoor use only

    Coleman: Coleman Classic 2-Burner Propane Camp Stove

    A two-burner propane stove for cooking through an outage; use it outdoors only, never indoors or in a garage, because it produces carbon monoxide.

    Check price at Amazon.comCheck price at Amazon.ca

  • Phone power bank

    Anker: Anker Power Bank, 20,000mAh, Built-In USB-C Cable

    A 20,000 mAh pack holds several phone charges and has its own cable, so one less thing to find in the dark.

    Check price at Amazon.comCheck price at Amazon.ca

  • Battery-operated carbon monoxide alarm

    Kidde: Kidde KN-COB-B-LP Nighthawk Carbon Monoxide Alarm, Battery Operated

    Kidde lists it as UL Listed with an electrochemical sensor, and it runs on 3 AA batteries so it keeps working in a power outage.

    Check price at Amazon.comNo Canadian link yet

  • Battery-operated carbon monoxide alarm

    Kidde: Kidde C3010 Worry-Free Carbon Monoxide Alarm, 10-Year Sealed Battery

    Kidde lists its Canadian C3010-CA as CSA Listed with an electrochemical sensor and a sealed lithium battery, so it keeps working in an outage; check the listing shows the CSA mark before buying.

    No US link yetCheck price at Amazon.ca

  • 5 gal / 19 L bucket with a lid

    Reliance: Reliance Luggable Loo Portable 5 Gallon Toilet with Snap-On Lid

    A 5 gal (19 L) bucket toilet with a seat and snap-on lid, for when the toilet can't be flushed.

    Check price at Amazon.comCheck price at Amazon.ca

Sources

Updated November 9, 2026