Apartment Blackout Preparedness 101: A Practical Guide for Apartment Living

Living in an apartment offers convenience, but it also brings challenges during a blackout. Limited space, reliance on elevators, and shared building systems can make power outages more disruptive than you might expect. The good news? With a few practical strategies, you can stay safe and comfortable during a blackout.

Living in an apartment can give a sense of security. After all, you’ve got neighbors close by, maintenance teams on call, and building systems designed for safety. But emergencies don’t always play by the rules, and rolling blackouts are a recurring issue in most cities.

When the power goes out in an apartment building, you’re often dealing with more than just a dark room. Elevators stop running, security systems may shut down, and access to water or heat can be disrupted, especially if your building relies on electric pumps or systems. In high-rise buildings, this can mean no easy way to reach upper floors, and in some cases, no way to keep perishable food from spoiling if the outage lasts more than a few hours.

And since you can’t just fire up a generator on your balcony or in the hallway (that’s both dangerous and against building codes), your best defense is preparation. Having flashlights, battery backups for your phone, a supply of bottled water, and some ready-to-eat food can make all the difference.

When preparing for a blackout that may last several days, aim to gather supplies that can sustain your home safely and comfortably without electricity.

• Water: At least one gallon per person per day for drinking and sanitation (minimum 3–5 gallons per person).

• Nonperishable food: Ready-to-eat canned goods, protein bars, dried fruit, nuts, and shelf-stable meals that don’t require cooking.

• Flashlights and lanterns: Battery-powered or hand-crank models for safe, flameless light.

• Extra batteries and portable chargers: Keep multiple sizes of batteries and fully charged power banks for phones or radios.

• Battery- or crank-powered radio: For receiving emergency updates and weather alerts when other communications are down.

• First-aid kit: Include bandages, antiseptic wipes, medications, pain relievers, and any prescription medicines.

• Warm clothing and blankets: Blackouts often coincide with storms or cold weather.

• Hygiene items: Moist towelettes, hand sanitizer, garbage bags, and basic toiletries.

• Cash in small bills: ATMs and card systems may not function during outages.

• Multi-tool or basic toolkit: For minor repairs or turning off utilities if needed.

• Whistle: To signal for help if you’re trapped or need to alert rescuers.

• Important documents: Store copies of IDs, insurance papers, and emergency contacts in a waterproof container.

• Special needs items: Baby formula, pet food, medical devices with backup power, etc.