Blackout – How to Prepare Your Home for 72 Hours Without Power
A blackout in Europe is no longer a science fiction scenario. Here's how to concretely prepare your home — a practical checklist for 72 hours without electricity.
In October 2024, Germany's Federal Office for Civil Protection again warned households to prepare for a multi-day power outage. Similar warnings came from Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
This isn't alarmism. This is official government communication.
The question isn't whether you'll experience a blackout — it's whether you'll be prepared when it happens.
Here's what you can do, concretely.
What Actually Happens During a Blackout?
Power doesn't just go out — it takes almost everything with it:
In the first minutes:
- Lights off
- Internet gone (routers need power)
- Heating off (pumps and controls run on electricity)
- Lifts stopped
After a few hours:
- Mobile phone charge drops (masts have backup power, but limited)
- ATMs offline
- Traffic lights out
- Petrol stations can't pump fuel
After 24–48 hours:
- Food cold chain broken (supermarket refrigeration)
- Water supply under strain (pumps fail)
- Hospitals on emergency operation
- Public order under pressure
This isn't the end of the world — but it's serious enough to be prepared.
The 72-Hour Checklist: What You Need Now
Lighting
- Torches (min. 2) with fresh batteries
- Candles and lighter/matches (min. 48 hours burn time)
- Head torch (keeps hands free)
- LED camping lantern (very efficient, lasts for days)
Communication
- Wind-up or battery radio: Official information without power
- Powerbank (min. 20,000 mAh) for smartphone
- Emergency numbers printed out (no power = no internet = no Google)
- Meeting point agreed with family members in case phones are dead
Warmth
- Blankets and sleeping bags: Radiators get cold — faster than you'd expect
- Camping gas stove with sufficient cartridges (outdoor or well-ventilated only!)
- Warm clothing accessible (wool jumpers, thermal underlayers)
Water
- Minimum 4 litres per person per day for 3 days stored
- Water purification tablets as backup
Food
- Tinned food (beans, lentils, vegetables, fish): min. 3 days
- Nuts, dried fruit, biscuits: Calories without refrigeration
- Tin opener (don't forget!)
Cash
- Minimum €200 in small notes at home: card payment doesn't work without power
Medications
- 14-day supply of all regularly needed medications
- First aid kit complete and current
- Personal documents (ID, insurance card) accessible
What You Should NOT Buy
Many households panic-buy the wrong things:
- Petrol generators without ventilation: CO poisoning risk — deadly indoors
- Candles without holders: Fire hazard
- Too many frozen products: Thaw quickly when power goes
- Everything at once: More expensive, more stressful, more mistakes
Emergency Power: What Actually Helps
Option 1: Power Station (recommended for most households)
Portable battery packs like the EcoFlow Delta or Jackery Explorer 1000 deliver 1–2 kWh of power without combustion — CO-free, suitable for indoor use.
- Powers: smartphones, laptop, LED lights, small radio, cool box
- Not suitable for: cooker, heating, washing machine
- Price: €500–1,500
Option 2: Solar Panel Combination
Power station + solar panel (100–200W) = theoretically unlimited runtime in sunshine. Realistic output in Central/Northern Europe: 300–600 Wh per day.
Option 3: Petrol/Gas Generator (homeowners with outdoor space only)
Higher output, but loud, maintenance-intensive, and must be used strictly outdoors.
Blackout in a Flat vs. In Your Own House
Flat residents: Limited options. Focus on: supplies, lighting, communication, warmth through clothing.
Homeowners: More options and more responsibility. Additionally relevant:
- Heating: Wood burner, log fire, or gas heating with manual ignition as backup
- Water supply: Own pump? Cistern?
- Protecting the building: Pipe freezing risk in cold weather when heating fails
How Properties Either Protect or Endanger in Crisis Situations
Poorly insulated buildings cool faster. Buildings with moisture in the structure face elevated mold risk during a winter blackout — no heating, but the moisture remains.
This is one more reason not to put off addressing damp and mold issues.
The Bottom Line: 72 Hours — That's Your Starting Goal
You don't need to plan for an apocalyptic scenario. But 72 hours without electricity is a realistic, government-communicated scenario. And being prepared for it costs less than €200 and two hours of preparation.
Start today with step one: Check your torch. Batteries in the house? Powerbank charged?
Want to go deeper? Our e-book "Crisis-Proof Home" gives you the complete action plan for €17 — available immediately as a PDF. Questions about your building's infrastructure? Book a video analysis — direct, no travel costs.
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