Tuesday, 06:03.

As I was reading through the latest analyses on grid security this morning, one thing became painfully clear to me once again: the civilisation on which we blindly rely is a wafer-thin layer of ice. According to current performance data, around 87% of people in Germany completely underestimate the critical 72-hour mark of a nationwide power cut. They trust that, in an emergency, someone will take responsibility. A fatal mistake.

Let’s do a quick, honest thought experiment: it’s Friday evening, 9.14 pm. You’re sitting down to dinner when suddenly the lights go out. The familiar hum of the fridge falls silent. You look out of the window – the whole city is pitch black. No mobile network. No heating. Not a drop comes out of the tap because the electric pumps are in the basement. Outside, it’s a bitterly cold winter’s night at minus six degrees.

At this very moment, it is decided whether you frantically search the darkness for an old candle – or whether you calmly pull out this checklist because you have protected your family. This list is not scaremongering. It is the result of years of research – your relentlessly honest roadmap for staying in control when everything around you descends into chaos.

Short on time? Get the ready-to-print 72-hour emergency checklist now – delivered straight to your inbox:

Pillar 1: Warmth & shelter – the underestimated priority #1

Germany has an average annual temperature of approx. 8.2°C. In winter, temperatures quickly drop below freezing – and without heating, a standard house cools down to below 10°C within just 6 to 8 hours when the outside temperature is minus ten degrees. For the elderly, the sick and, above all, children, this situation becomes life-threatening within a very short time.

It is not hunger. It is not thirst. In Central Europe, the freezing cold is by far the greatest risk in the first 48 hours of a winter blackout. Anyone who fails to act immediately here loses control.

Heat without electricity

Experienced crisis and survival experts such as Thomas Gast recommend the so-called ‘one-room concept’ in this scenario: everyone in the household moves to a single room, preferably one facing south. Your collective body heat is your strongest and most reliable source of warmth in the first few days.

• Seal windows airtight: use blankets, sleeping mats or aluminium foil to seal them from the inside to stop heat escaping.
• Break cold bridges on the floor: Lay out sleeping bags or woollen blankets on the floor as a thick insulating layer.
• The ‘tent-in-the-room’ principle: Pitch a camping tent right in the living room – the confined space traps body heat for an extremely long time.
• Block door gaps: Consistently seal cracks and gaps with rolled-up towels.
• Apply the layering principle: wear functional clothing in layers (merino underwear → fleece → windproof outer layer).

Blackout checklist: Warmth

• ☐ Sleeping bags (comfort rating down to at least –5°C) for every family member
• ☐ High-quality thermal underwear + thick fleece jackets + woollen hats
• ☐ Sleeping mats or thick camping mats (protection against the relentless cold of the ground)
• ☐ Heavy woollen blankets (at least 2 extra blankets per person)
• ☐ Aluminium foil, duct tape or emergency blankets for window insulation
• ☐ Compact camping/trekking gas stove with sufficient screw-in cartridges
• ☐ Kerosene heater or lamp (only under the strictest safety conditions!)
• ☐ CO detector (Essential for any alternative combustion method!)
• ☐ BIC lighters + candles + waterproof matches

Pillar 2: Water supply for 10 days

After just 24 hours without clean drinking water, your cognitive function and physical stamina will decline drastically. After 72 hours, there is a risk of irreversible organ damage, and death will occur after three days without fluids at the latest. Drinking unfiltered, contaminated water from unclear sources is the quickest route to severe gastrointestinal illnesses in a crisis.

As soon as the power grid collapses, municipal waterworks fail simultaneously in almost all regions – because pumps, filtration stages and sewage treatment plants are 100% electrically powered. Never plan your emergency provisions with the naive belief that water will still come out of the tap during a blackout.

How much water do you really need? Exact facts rather than estimates

The Federal Office for Civil Protection (BBK) recommends an absolute minimum of 2 litres of clean drinking water per person per day. If you factor in cooking and basic emergency hygiene, a realistic figure is 3 to 4 litres. This structured overview shows the crystal-clear minimum requirement for your household:

The honest prepper truth: storing hundreds of litres of water in a city flat often comes down to a lack of space. That’s why, alongside filled HDPE plastic canisters (food-safe, 10–20 litres), a self-sufficient method of water treatment should be on your checklist.

Water treatment in an emergency

When your stored supplies run low, you need to be able to turn rainwater, river water or seepage water from the surrounding area into completely germ-free drinking water. A robust 0.1 µm hollow-fibre water filter blocks 99.99% of all dangerous bacteria and parasites. For you, this means: you protect your children from illness and don’t have to leave your home in the chaos to queue at overcrowded distribution points.

Blackout checklist: Water

• ☐ Water canisters (certified HDPE, food-safe) – enough for at least 14 days’ supply
• ☐ Portable hollow-fibre or ceramic water filter (e.g. Sawyer Squeeze)
• ☐ Water purification tablets (Micropur Forte with silver ions for long-term preservation)
• ☐ Sturdy stainless steel pot for boiling water (boil vigorously for at least 3 minutes)
• ☐ Clean tarpaulins or foldable wide-neck canisters for improvised rainwater collection

Pillar 3: Food & Barter Goods (The Real Basics)

Authorities recommend a food supply for at least 10 days. However, reality shows that once supply chains collapse, supermarkets are completely empty within 36 hours at the latest. Thomas Gast therefore recommends a solid stockpile for 3 months. Not because the grid will remain down for that long, but because logistical supply bottlenecks can persist for weeks after systems are back up and running.

Forget low-calorie diet foods or complicated luxury items in your pantry. Under psychological stress, your body needs one thing above all else: compact, reliable energy (2,500 kcal per person per day).

The unconventional shopping list for emergency supplies

• Pulses (red lentils, dried peas): The absolute number one source of protein. They have an almost indefinite shelf life, take up little space and are extremely versatile in preparation.
• Peanut butter: The ultimate survival power food. With over 600 kcal per 100g, it provides plenty of fat and protein, requires no refrigeration and does not need to be cooked.
• Carbohydrates with a plan: Rice, pasta and durum wheat flour. Using flour, water and salt, you can bake nutritious emergency bread over embers in just a few minutes.
• Fats & vitamins: Ghee (clarified butter) and coconut oil have an extremely long shelf life even without a fridge. Supplement with high-quality multivitamins to effectively prevent deficiency symptoms.

Barter goods: The hardest currency in a crisis

As soon as the banks close and the cash machines stop working, paper money turns into worthless metal and printed paper. In a real crisis, bartering flourishes. Anyone who then possesses luxury goods that other people are desperately seeking will have the strongest negotiating position.

Here’s my no-nonsense tip: Stockpile these items even if you don’t consume them yourself. A single packet of cigarettes or a pound of coffee can, in a crisis situation, be the key to securing urgently needed help or tools from your neighbour.

• ☕ Coffee (vacuum-packed or instant): Psychologically, the most sought-after luxury item of all. A hot brew brings warmth from within and boosts morale.
• 🚬 Tobacco & lighters: A classic, highly crisis-proof medium of exchange.
• 🍫 Dark chocolate: Provides instant energy and serves as emotional comfort for children under stress.
• 🔋 Branded batteries (AA / AAA): Power becomes a scarce commodity during a blackout. Batteries are desperately sought after everywhere.
• 💊 Over-the-counter painkillers (ibuprofen / paracetamol): Basic medical supplies are worth their weight in gold when doctors are no longer available.

Blackout checklist: Food

• ☐ Emergency supplies for at least 14 days (calculated consistently at 2,000–2,500 kcal per person per day)
• ☐ Free-standing camping stove with suitable pressure regulator and gas cartridges
• ☐ Sturdy, purely mechanical tin openers (make sure you have at least two!)
• ☐ Indestructible outdoor crockery and cutlery set made of stainless steel
• ☐ Thick, tear-resistant, black bin liners and plenty of string (your multifunctional emergency toilet!)
• ☐ Stock of barter goods (coffee, tobacco, painkillers, batteries) – store strictly out of sight

Additional: Energy, light & communication

Once your basic biological needs – warmth, water, food – are met, you must maintain your ability to act and keep the flow of information going.

The honest truth about emergency generators: Conventional petrol or diesel generators sound like the perfect solution. But in a real blackout, the petrol pumps at filling stations also fail immediately. Without electricity, there is no fuel – your generator is useless after a few hours. What’s more, they produce noise and exhaust fumes, which in a quiet city inevitably attract envious neighbours and uninvited guests.

The smarter, silent approach: portable power stations powered by foldable solar panels (photovoltaics). Fuel.

• ☐ Power station (minimum 500 Wh capacity) + foldable solar panel (100–200 W)
• ☐ Battery- or hand-crank-powered world receiver radio (FM/AM/LW) for official government announcements
• ☐ LED headlamps (keep your hands free) including plenty of suitable spare batteries
• ☐ Robust power bank (minimum 20,000 mAh) for emergency charging of communication devices
• ☐ Analogue road atlas and printed maps of the region (allow for the failure of GPS and digital maps)
• ☐ Cash reserve in small notes, kept safe on your person (ATMs and card payments are down)

The psychology of crisis: Why most people are unprepared

Statistics and studies paint a frightening picture: well over 60% of the population in Germany have no emergency supplies to last longer than three days. Not because the danger is unknown – but because our human brain systematically blocks out existential risks that rarely occur in everyday life.

Experienced crisis preparedness expert Lars Konarek sums up this dilemma: “The crucial question is not whether a blackout will happen. The question is solely when it will happen – and whether, at that very moment, you will be a rock for your family, or whether you will have to helplessly hope that others will take responsibility for your life.”

The fact that you have read this guide carefully up to this point proves that you have already taken responsibility for yourself and your loved ones into your own hands.

Supermarkets will be empty after a 48-hour power cut – including the pet food shelves.

This affects you and your four-legged friend directly, because in a crisis, hunger quickly turns to sheer panic. Whilst most people think primarily of their own supply of water and light, their most loyal companion is often left defenceless. Your pet cannot help itself during a blackout – it is 100% dependent on your foresight. In this guide, Wolf shows you how to ensure your pet is fully provided for using the tried-and-tested 3-pillar method.

Pillar 1: Warmth & shelter – Stop the psychological stress

Animals experience a power cut completely differently to us. Sirens, sudden darkness and the disruption of their routines put dogs and cats on high alert. If the heating then fails in winter, the cold becomes a deadly danger.

Small rodents, birds and reptiles in particular struggle to cope with sudden drops in temperature. Provide insulated places of refuge. A carrier lined with blankets retains your pet’s body heat far better than an open basket.

Wolf’s rule of conduct: if you stay calm, your pet will stay calm. Stick to your usual feeding times as closely as possible. Use familiar aids such as Thundershirts or calming sprays (e.g. Adaptil for dogs or Feliway for cats) as battery-free stress relievers.

Pillar 2: Water – The unvarnished truth about fluid requirements

The official BBK guideline recommends 2 litres of water per person per day. But have you factored in the extra water for your pets? When not a drop comes out of your taps, every millilitre counts.

A medium-sized dog needs up to 1 litre a day when stressed. Cats manage on 200 to 300 ml. For a safe 10-day scenario, you therefore need at least 10 litres of pure, uncontaminated extra water for a dog in your emergency stockpile.

Pillar 3: Food, Medicines & the ‘Ready’ Principle for Dry Food

An open bowl of wet food becomes a breeding ground for bacteria within a few hours in a flat without air conditioning or heating. That is why the honest recommendation for your emergency supply is: consistently opt for high-quality, dry food in airtight containers.

The situation becomes particularly critical for chronically ill animals. Whether it’s insulin for a cat or heart tablets for a dog: pharmacies and vets will be closed for days during a widespread blackout. A solid supply lasting at least two weeks is not a luxury here, but a lifeline.

The blackout pet bag: your 10-day checklist

• Dry food for at least 10 days (vacuum-packed)
• Extra drinking water (calculated for 10 days per pet)
• Foldable food and water bowls (space-saving)
• Sturdy carrier, as well as escape-proof harness and lead
• Essential medication (at least a 14-day supply)
• Waterproof document folder (vaccination certificate, microchip number, emergency vet contact details)
• Recent photo of the animal (printed copy + saved offline on your smartphone)
• First-aid kit specifically for animals (including self-adhesive bandages and tick tweezers)
• Hygiene supplies (bin bags, wet wipes, biodegradable cat litter)
• Familiar blanket or toy (important for the comforting familiar scent)

Note: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. There are no additional costs to you.

More helpful articles

→ Packing an emergency rucksack: What you really need to include
→ Building an emergency stockpile: The complete step-by-step guide
→ First aid without electricity: What you need
to know during a blackout → Preparing for a blackout with children: What families need to know

Read more at Blackout-Ready

The Grocery Store Illusion

Most people rely on an invisible backup plan: If a real emergency hits, I’ll just quickly drive to the supermarket.

This plan is a deadly mistake. After just 4 hours of a power outage, the checkout systems are dead and the doors are locked. Within 48 hours, the shelves are completely bare — because modern supermarkets no longer keep their own back-stock inventory. Trucks deliver every single day. If they stop coming, nothing is left.

What happens next, hour by hour — and why the only real backup plan is the one you build today: that is exactly what this article will show you.

Most people think: “In an emergency, I’ll just pop to the supermarket.” That is a dangerous misconception. Here is what really happens — minute by minute.

Minutes 1–15: Chaos begins immediately

When the power goes out, the following happens immediately in the supermarket:

• Checkout systems fail — no card payments, no till system
• Automatic doors stop working
• Lighting: emergency lighting comes on (briefly), then it goes dark
• Refrigerated shelves start to warm up

Most supermarkets close immediately if the tills stop working — if only to prevent theft. No power = no security cameras = no tills = shop closed.

Hours 1–3: Panic buying and empty shelves

The few supermarkets that are still open (operating on a cash-only basis) or are just opening are immediately stormed.

What sells out first (based on past events):

1. Mineral water — within minutes
2. Bread — within 30 minutes
3. Milk, eggs — within 1 hour
4. Tinned and dried goods — within 2–3 hours
5. Batteries, candles, torches — immediately

Hours 3–24: Supermarkets remain closed

After the initial panic buying:

• No further deliveries — logistics and warehouses need electricity
• Chilled goods (meat, dairy products) spoil and must be destroyed
• Supermarkets barricade themselves against potential looting
• Staff are sent home

Reality: Anyone not in the supermarket within the first 30–60 minutes will come away empty-handed.

What if you have cash? Some supermarkets have emergency generators and accept cash. In the first few hours, these become the destination for hundreds of people at once. Even with cash and a shop that’s open: the most essential items (water, tinned food) are sold out within minutes.

You cannot go shopping in an emergency

That is the most important sentence in this article. In the event of a serious power cut, the supermarket is not an option.

The only solution: be prepared in advance.

What you need:

• Food supplies for at least 72 hours → Emergency food supplies: The complete list
• Water supply + water filter → Water filter test
• Cash at home

👉 Blackout checklist: How to be prepared before it’s too late →
👉 Download the free instant checklist as a PDF →

Read more at Blackout-Ready

⚠️ Important information on emergency preparedness

This guide is intended solely to provide general information on emergency preparedness. It is not a substitute for professional advice from qualified personnel or official recommendations.

Act immediately in an emergency: always try to contact the emergency services on 112. Official recommendations on crisis preparedness can be found at the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK). Last reviewed: June 2026.

When the power goes out, the clock starts ticking. The fridge will keep food fresh for another 4–6 hours. The freezer will last 24–48 hours if it is full and remains closed. After that: everything will go off — unless you take action.

These 6 methods will help you keep food fresh for as long as possible, even without electricity.

Method 1: Preserving

Preserving is the oldest and most reliable method of food preservation. Fruit, vegetables, meat and soups are sterilised in preserving jars at high heat and can then be kept for years — without refrigeration, without electricity.

Shelf life: 1–5 years depending on the contents.
Required: preserving jars, large saucepan, camping stove.

👉 Best gas stove for preserving without electricity →

Method 2: Freezing — but prepared properly

During a power cut: Do not open the freezer. It will keep for 24–48 hours if full. Wrap blankets or sleeping bags around it for extra insulation. In winter: Move food to the balcony or into the car (if it’s cold enough).

Quick tip: When the power cut begins, use up the contents of the fridge immediately (as they spoil more quickly) and leave the freezer untouched.

Method 3: Dehydrating / Drying

Dried food keeps for months to years without refrigeration. Meat (jerky), fruit, vegetables, herbs — all of these can be dried.

Without electricity: In summer, dry in direct sunlight (on a clean cloth), or over a camping stove on a low heat.

Shelf life: Dried fruit 6–12 months, dried meat 1–2 months.

Method 4: Pickling in salt or vinegar

Salt and vinegar effectively inhibit bacterial growth. Cucumbers, onions, meat, fish — everything can be pickled.

• Salt-curing (salt): Pickle meat and fish in salt → Shelf life: weeks to months
• Pickling in vinegar: Vegetables in vinegar brine → Shelf life: months
• Preserving in oil: Herbs, cheese, vegetables in olive oil → Shelf life: weeks

Method 5: Fermentation

Fermentation is easier than you might think: vegetables + salt + time = sauerkraut, kimchi or pickled gherkins. Fermented foods are preserved by their acidity and are even more nutritious than fresh ones.

No electricity needed, no special equipment. Just salt, vegetables, a jar and a 3–7 day wait.

Method 6: Cooling without electricity

A ‘Zeer Pot’ (pot-in-pot) cools through evaporation — no electricity needed. Two earthenware pots, sand between them, kept moist. The internal temperature remains significantly cooler than the outside temperature.

In winter, a cellar or north-facing balcony often serves as a natural fridge.

What to do immediately if the power goes out?

1. Fridge: Eat or cook the contents quickly
2. Freezer: Do not open, insulate
3. Preserve or pickle perishable food immediately
4. Have a stove or camping cooker ready

👉 Cooking during a blackout: How to prepare meals →
👉 Stove without electricity: An overview of all options →

For complete blackout preparedness:
👉 Emergency backpack with cooking equipment: The best models →

Read more at Blackout-Ready

⚠️ Important information on emergency preparedness

This guide is intended solely to provide general information on emergency preparedness. It is not a substitute for professional advice from qualified personnel or official recommendations.

Act immediately in an emergency: always try to call the emergency number 112. Official recommendations on crisis preparedness can be found at the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK). Last reviewed: June 2026.

“That only happens in developing countries.” — Many Germans still believe this. Yet the Federal Office for Civil Protection, security experts have been warning for years of a very real scenario: a widespread, days-long power cut.

What are the real risks? When could it happen? And why do the authorities say you should be prepared?

What is a blackout — and what isn’t?

A normal power cut lasts from minutes to a few hours and usually affects a city or region. This happens regularly — due to storms, technical faults or construction work.

A blackout is something else: a widespread, uncontrolled collapse of the power grid lasting several days, affecting large parts of one country or several countries. The European power grid is interconnected in such a way that a domino effect is possible.

Has Germany ever experienced blackouts?

Almost. In November 2006, Europe came very close to a widespread blackout. A faulty shutdown of a high-voltage line across the River Ems in Lower Saxony triggered a chain reaction — within minutes, 15 million Europeans were without power. Germany was directly affected.

Only thanks to the rapid intervention of the grid operators was a total collapse prevented. The European Commission called it a “wake-up call”.

What do the authorities say?

The Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) has classified the “power cut” scenario as one of the greatest risks facing Germany. The “Civil Protection Risk Analysis” states in black and white:

“A widespread, prolonged power cut would have catastrophic consequences for the population.”

The Federal Ministry of the Interior explicitly recommends stockpiling supplies for 10 days. In 2021, the Bundestag adopted a report describing Germany’s critical infrastructure as “vulnerable”.

The 5 biggest risks of a blackout

1. Cyberattacks on the electricity infrastructure

Power stations, substations and grid operators are increasingly digitally interconnected — and therefore vulnerable. The attack on the Ukrainian power grid in 2015 and 2016 (the first successful cyberattack on a national power grid worldwide) has shown that it is possible. The same applies to Germany.

2. Extreme weather due to climate change

Heatwaves strain the power grid due to increased cooling requirements. Storms damage power lines. Floods endanger substations. The frequency and intensity of such events are increasing.

3. Cascading effects in the European interconnected grid

Germany is part of the European interconnected grid. A failure in a neighbouring country can also affect Germany through a chain reaction — as nearly happened in 2006.

4. Technical failure of ageing infrastructure

Many parts of the German electricity grid are decades old. The transition to renewable energy increases complexity and thus the likelihood of faults.

5. Geopolitical crises

Sabotage of energy infrastructure (such as the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in 2022) shows that critical infrastructure is a target in geopolitical conflicts.

What would really happen?

A blackout is not simply ‘no lights’. It affects the whole of modern society:

• 🚰 Water: Pumps stop → no tap water after a few hours
• 🏥 Hospitals: Emergency power for 24–72 hours, then critical
• 📱 Communications: Mobile phone masts have emergency power for 1–3 days
• 🏦 Cash supply: ATMs and debit card payments stop working
• 🛒 Food: Supermarket checkouts down → shelves empty within hours
• 🚗 Transport: Traffic lights out → chaos, petrol stations not working
• 🔥 Heating: Modern gas heating systems require electricity to operate

After 72 hours without power, a real survival situation begins for many people.

How long could a blackout last?

That depends on the cause. A technical fault: hours to days. A coordinated cyberattack: days to weeks. A physical attack on several substations simultaneously: unknown.

The BBK is planning for scenarios involving up to 4 weeks without power. Even if this is a worst-case scenario — the authorities are preparing for it.

What can you do?

The good news: preparing is easier than you think. The most important things are:

• ✅ Water supply: At least 2 litres per person per day → Water filter as a backup
• ✅ Food supplies: For 72 hours to 10 days → Build up an emergency supply: Guide
• ✅ Emergency kit: torch, hand-crank radio, power bank → Emergency backpack comparison
• ✅ Cash: At least €200–300 in small notes at home
• ✅ Communication: Agree on a meeting point with family in case mobile phones fail

Conclusion: Not paranoid — just prepared

A blackout in Germany is not a science fiction scenario. It is a recognised risk for which authorities, businesses and experts are preparing.

You don’t need to become a prepper. But being able to look after yourself for 72 hours — that’s a sensible precaution, just like home contents insurance or a first-aid course.

Where to start? With the essentials: water and food.
👉 My complete emergency backpack comparison: What you really need →

Read more at Blackout-Ready

⚠️ Important information on emergency preparedness

This guide is intended solely to provide general information on emergency preparedness. It is not a substitute for professional advice from qualified personnel.

Act immediately in an emergency: always try to reach the emergency number 112. You can find official recommendations at the BBK. Last reviewed: June 2026.

The Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) recommends that every household in Germany maintain an emergency supply for at least 10 days. Most people have: none of this. Not every food item is suitable for an emergency supply. Anyone who simply fills their fridge will have a problem after a 24-hour power cut. Anyone who stocks up on packet soups will realise in an emergency: you need boiling water — not electricity.

But it’s not complicated at all. You don’t need to be a prepper or set up a stockpile in the cellar. In this article, I’ll show you exactly what you need, how much of it, and the quickest way to get started — without spending a lot of money.

Why you should start now

A power cut, a storm, a supply chain crisis — the reasons for an empty supermarket can arise faster than you think. In Germany, there have been several regional supply shortages in the last five years alone.

In an emergency, it’s too late. The shelves are empty, the cash machines aren’t working, and your neighbours have the same problem as you.

Building an emergency stockpile costs you just a few hours and a few hundred euros — and gives you real peace of mind in return.

The 4 criteria for good emergency food supplies

1. Long shelf life: at least 1 year, preferably 3–5 years
2. High in calories: You need energy, not just volume
3. Little preparation: Ideally ready to eat or requiring only brief heating
4. You’d eat them anyway: No special foods that end up in the bin after the blackout

Step 1: Calculate your requirements

As a general rule: 2,000–2,500 kcal per person per day for an adult. Plus at least 2 litres of water per person per day (for drinking only — more for cooking and hygiene).

Example of a 72-hour supply (3 days) for 2 people:

• Calories: 2,500 kcal × 2 people × 3 days = 15,000 kcal
• Water: 2 litres × 2 people × 3 days = 12 litres of drinking water

Recommendation: Start with 72 hours, then build up to 10 days.

Step 2: Choosing the right food

Good emergency food supplies meet these criteria:

• ✅ Long shelf life (at least 1–2 years)
• ✅ High in calories
• ✅ Require little or no water to prepare
• ✅ You would normally eat them anyway (no special items)

Category 1: Carbohydrates (energy source)

Suggested quantities for 2 people / 72 hours: 500g rice + 500g pasta + 1 packet of crispbread

Category 2: Protein (satiety and energy)

Suggested quantities for 2 people / 72 hours: 4 tins of fish + 2 tins of beans + 1 jar of peanut butter

Category 3: Fats (energy density)

Cooking without electricity

For rice and pasta, you need a heat source. During a power cut, you can use:

• Camping stove / gas stove → The best gas stoves for a power cut
• Wood-burning stove / Fireplace
• Outdoor barbecue

Read more: Cooking during a power cut: How to prepare meals without electricity →

Ready to eat (no cooking required)

These foods are particularly valuable because you can eat them without water or a heat source:

• 🍫 Chocolate — energy + morale (underestimated!)
• 🥜 Nuts and dried fruit — very high in calories
• 🍯 Honey — keeps forever, ready to eat, antibacterial
• 🥫 Tinned cold cuts
• 🍪 Energy bars (e.g. muesli bars)

What you should NOT stock

• ❌ Fresh fruit and vegetables (goes off immediately)
• ❌ Frozen food (useless after 24 hours)
• ❌ Bread (goes mouldy after 3–5 days)
• ❌ Milk (only UHT milk is suitable)
• ❌ Food you don’t normally eat (important for motivation when under stress)

Step 3: Stock up on water

Water is more important than food. You can survive for weeks without food — but only days without water.

Option A: Buy
bottled water The simplest solution. 6×1.5-litre bottles per person for 3 days.

Option B: Fill
your own containers Fill food-safe water canisters (10–20 litres) with fresh tap water. Replace every 6–12 months.

Option C: Water filter as a backup
When your supply runs out, you can use a water filter to treat water from streams, lakes or rainwater.
👉 The best water filters for a blackout →

Step 4: Add emergency equipment

Food and water alone are not enough. These essentials are also required:

• 🕯️ Candles + lighter / matches
• 🔦 Torch + spare batteries
• 📻 Hand-crank radio (news without electricity)
• 💊 First-aid kit
• 💶 Cash (ATMs won’t work)
• 🔋 Power bank (to charge your mobile phone)
• ⛽ Camping stove + gas cartridge (cooking food without electricity)

If you want to have all of this to hand in a compact rucksack, I recommend my detailed article:
👉 The perfect emergency backpack: What really belongs in it →

Step 5: Store correctly

An emergency supply is useless if it’s gone off after a year. Proper storage is simple:

• Store in a cool, dark place (cellar, storeroom) — not above 20°C
• Keep dry — moisture quickly renders food unusable
• Rotation: Older items at the front, new ones at the back — ‘First In, First Out’
• Check the best-before date — go through your stock once a year
• Store food in airtight containers or original packaging

Step 6: Test your supplies

Simulate a “blackout weekend” once a year: live off your supplies for 48 hours, no supermarket, no delivery service. This will immediately show you what’s missing.

Your shopping list to get started (72 hours, 2 people)

Conclusion: Start today — not ‘sometime’

You don’t have to be perfectly prepared. You just need to be better prepared than you were yesterday.

Next time you go to the supermarket, just buy 5 tins more than you planned. Put 6 bottles of water in the cellar. Put a torch in the drawer.

If you want a proper emergency rucksack with everything you need at your fingertips, you can find my full comparison here:
👉 Buy an emergency backpack: These models are truly blackout-ready →

📚 Official sources & references

• Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) — Emergency preparedness recommendations
• Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW (Federal Agency for Technical Relief)) — Disaster management in Germany
• German Red Cross (DRK) — First aid and disaster management

Last content review: June 2026

Read more at Blackout-Ready

]]> https://blackout-ready.de/en/water-during-a-blackout/ Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:36:33 +0000 https://blackout-ready.de/?p=2191 Read more at Blackout-Ready

]]> How to be prepared in an emergency

⚠️ Important health advice

This guide is intended to provide general information on crisis preparedness. Water stored incorrectly can become contaminated. If in doubt, or if using stagnant water from unknown sources, always filter and boil it before consumption!

A power cut affects the water supply more severely than many people realise. Without electricity, pumps and treatment systems often stop working – clean drinking water quickly becomes scarce. That is why it is crucial to know how to secure your water supply during a power cut and how much water you actually need in an emergency.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to store water properly, how long it lasts, and what solutions are available to ensure you still have clean water even without electricity. We’ll also show you which methods for treating drinking water are useful in an emergency and what you absolutely must bear in mind.

The water supply during a power cut is based on three key points:

1. Storing water
2. Treating water
3. Planning water consumption

Preparedness pillar	Shelf life / capacity	Key measure	Wolf’s unvarnished verdict
1. Long-lasting supply	Canister: approx. 6 months Bottled mineral water: years	Store in a dark, cool place at a constant temperature.	“Tap water in a canister starts to go off after a few weeks without preservatives (silver ions). Rely primarily on still mineral water from the supermarket.”
2. Mechanical filtration	Up to 300,000 litres (depending on the model)	Use of hollow fibre or activated carbon filters for surface water.	“A genuine emergency water filter must have a pore size of no more than 0.1 micrometres (µm) to physically block 99.999% of all bacteria and cysts.”
3. Chemical disinfection	Fuel-dependent / Shelf life of the tablets	Boil for at least 1 minute or use chlorine dioxide tablets.	“Filtering removes suspended solids and bacteria, but not viruses. For stagnant water, the rule is: filter first, then chemically disinfect or boil!”

Guaranteeing drinking water safety in an emergency

Don’t rely solely on the shelf life of your canisters. Find out which filters really do remove contaminants and germs from any water in an emergency.

→ Go to the emergency water filter test & comparison

Note: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
There are no additional costs to you.

How much water do you need during a blackout?

How much water you actually need is often underestimated — and most figures are far too optimistic.

These are the real figures:

• 2 litres/day — absolute minimum (drinking only)
• 3 litres/day — BBK recommendation
• 7 litres/day — actual requirement including cooking, hygiene & emergency reserves

For emergency supplies, the rule is: plan for at least 3 litres per person per day — more is always better. If you want to be on the safe side, allow for 7 litres. That sounds like a lot, but it is possible to shower using 1.5 litres — if you know how.

Example for a household

4-person household:

• 2 litres per person → 8 litres per day (minimum)
• 3 litres per person → 12 litres per day (BBK recommendation)
• 5 people × 2 weeks = at least 140 litres = approx. 94 PET bottles (1.5L) = ~16 six-packs

→ For a 7-day minimum supply: 56 to 84 litres. Demand rises quickly.

How long should the supply last?

• At least 7 days (BBK recommendation)
• Even better: 10–14 days
• Optimal: 4 weeks — particularly during prolonged crises, supplies may be cut off for longer than expected

---

What water sources are available in an emergency?

“You don’t throw away dirty water as long as you don’t have any clean.” — Konrad Adenauer

If the water supply fails, you’ll need to use alternative sources. The most important ones:

• Rainwater (set up gutters, buckets, tarpaulins)
• Rivers and lakes
• Wells
• Stored tap water (collected before the failure)
• Public above-ground hydrants

Important: These sources are often contaminated and should never be drunk unfiltered.

Pro tip: Above-ground hydrant key

🔑 Hardly anyone knows this tip:

A street hydrant key costs around €30, is 60 cm long and weighs 2 kg. In an emergency, you can use it to tap into public hydrants — one of the safest and closest water sources in the city. Buy one now, while there’s still time.

Homework: Your water map

Before an emergency strikes: take a walk around your neighbourhood and create a mental (or actual) map of all water sources within a 1–2 km radius:

• Lakes, rivers, streams
• Hydrants and fire hydrants
• Empty houses with an outside tap
• Public fountains or water dispensers

Knowing where your water sources are in advance saves valuable time in an emergency — and helps avoid panic.

Safety rules for collecting water

In a prolonged crisis, fetching water can be dangerous. These rules apply for good reason:

• Go in pairs — never set off alone
• It is safer at night than during the day (less attention)
• Use small side streets rather than the main road
• Don’t carry too heavy a load — if you stagger, you’ll attract attention
• If in danger: drop your load and run — water can be replaced, you cannot

➡️ View the best water filters for emergencies

Recommendation
-10% discount

Drinking water supply 10 litres – 10-year shelf life

40 x 250ml pouches, specially designed for long-term storage. No rotation needed — buy once, forget about it for 10 years.

✔ 10-year shelf life

✔ 40 individual 250ml sachets

✔ 10 litres total volume

€50.00
€45.00

View now at ration1.de

* Affiliate link to ration1.de. There are no extra costs for you.

Complete set
-25% discount

ration1 water filter + 10-litre storage pack

The complete water package: 10L long-life water + portable water filter in one set. Double the security — supply AND filtration.

✔ 10L supply with a 10-year shelf life

✔ Portable filter for emergency water sources

✔ Set saving compared to buying individually

€224.97 €
169.00
Set price

View now at ration1.de

* Affiliate link to ration1.de. There are no extra costs for you.

STORING WATER

As well as treatment, it is important to store enough water. With canisters and suitable containers, you can ensure you have enough for several days.

Water doesn’t have a proper expiry date — but it can still go off. For your emergency supplies, it’s important to know how long bottled water, tap water and spring water actually last.

---

How long does bottled mineral water last?

The best-before date printed on water bottles is not an indicator of the water’s quality — but of the packaging. Over time, PET bottles release microplastics and plasticisers into the water.

• Unopened PET bottle: Officially 6–24 months according to the label. The water itself remains drinkable for longer, but the quality deteriorates.
• Unopened glass bottle: Virtually unlimited shelf life.
• Opened bottle: Consume within 3–5 days.

Recommendation: Rotate your water supply every 12 months — use up the older water and buy new.

---

How long does tap water last when bottled at home?

If you bottle tap water in your own containers:

• In clean, airtight containers: 6–12 months
• In standard bottles: 3–6 months

Important: Rinse containers beforehand with drinking water and a drop of household bleach. Store in a cool, dark place. Replace every 6 months.

---

Signs that water has gone off

• Cloudy, greenish or brownish tinge
• Unusual smell (musty, chemical)
• Visible particles or deposits
• Slimy film on the bottle

If in doubt: it is better to treat it (filter, boil) than to drink it straight away.

---

The right way to store your emergency supplies

Containers	Shelf life	Tip
PET bottles (unopened)	12–24 months	Rotate annually
Food-safe containers	6–12 months	Fill cleanly, store in a dark place
Glass bottles	Unlimited	Take care to avoid breakage
Foldable canisters	6 months	For temporary storage only

Golden rules:

• Store in a cool (below 20°C) and dark place
• Keep away from cleaning products or chemicals
• Do not place directly on the floor (temperature fluctuations)
• Labelling: Write the date of filling on it

---

What if you run out?

No problem — if you’re prepared. With a good water filter, you can turn water from streams, rain or standing water into safe drinking water.

👉 Water filter test: Which one really filters cleanly? →

What happens without preparation?

Without sufficient water supplies, things can quickly become critical: dehydration, poor hygiene, health risks. Clean water is the most important resource in an emergency — even more so than food.

Common mistakes with water supply

• Storing too little water
• Not having a filter solution
• Relying solely on tap water
• Failing to draw up an emergency plan
• Not knowing where local water sources are

---

A power cut rarely lasts just a few hours. And after 24 hours at the latest, water will no longer come out of the tap — because the pumps that push it into your home run on electricity.

What then? Bottled water sells out in supermarkets within minutes. Springs, streams and rainwater are not safe to drink without treatment.

In this article, I’ll show you the 8 most reliable methods for treating drinking water without electricity — from free to professional.

---

Why clean water is the biggest problem during a blackout

The human body can survive for weeks without food — but only 3 to 5 days without water. The BBK recommends at least 2 litres of drinking water per person per day. For a family of four over 72 hours, that means a minimum of 24 litres.

The problem: even if you have water in stock — what if you run out? Or if you’re out and about? Then you need a method to make raw water drinkable.

---

Method 1: Boiling (free, but limited)

Boiling kills bacteria, viruses and parasites. It is the oldest and most reliable method — with one crucial catch: you need heat.

Here’s how:

• Boil the water vigorously for at least 3 minutes (above 1,000 metres: add 1 minute for every 150 metres of altitude)
• Allow to cool and pour into clean, sealed containers
• Consume within 24 hours

Suitable for: Anyone with a gas hob, camping stove or wood-burning stove.
Not suitable for: Chemical contamination (industrial, agricultural) — boiling does not help in this case.

---

Method 2: Chemical disinfection with chlorine

Chlorine tablets (e.g. ‘Micropur’ or ‘Aquatabs’) are small, light and inexpensive — ideal for an emergency kit. If you don’t have any chlorine tablets to hand: ordinary household bleach works too.

Here’s how (with tablets):

• Roughly pre-filter the water (e.g. through a cloth) to remove suspended particles
• Add the tablet to the water according to the instructions on the packet
• Leave to stand for 30 minutes

Here’s how (with liquid chlorine):

• 2 drops per litre of water — no more
• Leave to stand for 1 hour — the water is then safe to drink
• Tip: Use a small spoon and a narrow plastic strip to help measure the dose

Suitable for: Cloudy water, short-term use.
Not suitable for: Long-term use (taste), heavily chemically contaminated water.

---

Method 3: UV sterilisation (fast, but expensive)

UV pens such as the ‘SteriPen’ irradiate the water with ultraviolet light and render bacteria and viruses harmless in 90 seconds.

Advantages: Fast, no chemical taste, very effective.
Disadvantages: Requires batteries, does not work with very cloudy water.

Tip: Combine with a pre-filter (Method 5) for maximum safety.

---

Method 4: Solar disinfection (SODIS)

Sounds simple — and it is. Fill PET bottles with water, place them in the sun, wait 6–8 hours. The sun’s UV light kills pathogens.

Here’s how:

• Fill a clear 1.5-litre PET bottle (remove the labels!) with treated water
• On a hot, sunny day, leave in direct sunlight for 6 hours
• If it’s cloudy: 2 days

Ideal for: Prolonged power cuts in summer.
Not suitable for: Cloudy water, winter, overcast weather.

---

Method 5: Water filter (the most reliable solution)

A good water filter is the most professional and versatile solution. It mechanically filters out bacteria, parasites and suspended solids — without electricity, without chemicals, without sunlight.

The best filters use hollow fibre membranes that filter out particles down to 0.1 micrometres. This is sufficient to turn river water, rainwater or pond water into safe drinking water.

What to look for when buying:

• Filter capacity: at least 1,000 litres (preferably 100,000+)
• Filter size: 0.1 micrometres or smaller
• Handling: can be used without a pump (gravity or direct filter)
• Certification: NSF or equivalent

👉 Which water filter is best for a power cut? Here is my detailed comparison →

---

Method 6: The 3-vessel method (for heavily contaminated water)

This method originates from the Foreign Legion and works even without any equipment — just time.

If the water is very cloudy or muddy, mechanical settling helps as a first step:

• Day 1: Fill container 1 with dirty water, cover it and leave it to stand for 2 days
• Day 2: Fill vessel 2 with more dirty water
• Day 3: Carefully pour the clear water from container 1 into container 3 — the mud stays at the bottom
• Day 4: Do the same with container 2 — container 3 now contains the clarified water
• Afterwards, it is essential to: boil or chemically disinfect

Suitable for: Muddy surface water or rainwater.
Important: This method only clarifies, it does not sterilise — always combine with method 1 or 2.

---

Method 7: The T-shirt filter method

Also from the Foreign Legion — works anywhere, requires only a T-shirt.

An improvised pre-filter for coarse dirt and particles:

• Twist the T-shirt into a tight tube
• Dip one end into the container of dirty water
• Hang the other end 25–30 cm deeper into an empty collection vessel
• The water seeps slowly through the fabric — coarse particles remain at the top
• Be sure to treat the water afterwards (boil or chlorinate)

Suitable for: Initial pre-filtration of stream or rainwater.
Important: Removes only suspended solids, not germs — always combine with another method.

---

Method 8: DIY water filter made from a PET bottle

A functional multi-stage filter made from everyday materials — requires only a 1.5-litre PET bottle and natural materials:

• Cut off the bottom of the PET bottle
• Fill the bottle from bottom to top (fine at the bottom, coarse at the top): cotton → fine sand → fine gravel → coarse gravel
• Drill a small 2mm hole in the lid (regulates the flow)
• Hang the bottle upside down (open bottom at the top, lid at the bottom)
• Pour dirty water in from the top → filtered water drips out at the bottom
• Then boil or chlorinate

Suitable for: Cloudy surface water or rainwater as a pre-filter.
Not sufficient for: Killing viruses or removing chemical pollutants — always follow up with further treatment.

---

Bonus: Extracting water from plants

In summer, and if you can leave the house, there is another source: plant transpiration. Birch trees, for example, release up to 100 litres of water per day through transpiration.

Here’s how:

• Place a clear plastic bag over the branches and leaves and tie it shut
• Place a stone in the bag to create a low point
• The vapour wets the inside of the bag and runs as water into the low point
• Set up several spots at once to collect significant amounts

The yield per bag is low, but in a real emergency, even this method can make a difference.

---

Which method is best?

Method	Electricity required	Cost	Effectiveness	Suitable for power cuts
Boiling	No (heat source)	Free	High	✅ Yes
Chlorine / tablets	No	Low	Medium	✅ Yes
UV pen	Yes (batteries)	Medium	High	⚠️ Limited
SODIS	No	Free	Medium	⚠️ Limited
Water filter	No	One-off	Very high	✅✅ Optimal
3-vessel method	No	Free	Low (pre-filter)	✅ As a pre-stage
T-shirt filter	No	Free	Low (pre-filter)	✅ As a pre-stage
DIY PET filter	No	Free	Medium (pre-filter)	✅ As a preliminary stage

My recommendation: water filter as a base + chlorine tablets as a backup. The improvised methods (3-vessel, T-shirt, DIY filter) are only ever preliminary steps — they clarify but do not disinfect. Always combine with boiling or chlorine.

---

Outdoor filter
-28% discount

Outdoor water filter – Portable drinking water filter

Professional outdoor water filter for emergencies, survival and the great outdoors. Makes water from streams, lakes and rainwater drinkable — no electricity, no chemicals.

✔ Operates without electricity

✔ Compact and lightweight

✔ Suitable for emergencies and outdoor use

€179.99 €
129.00

View now at ration1.de

* Affiliate link to ration1.de. There are no extra costs for you.

Conclusion: Water is not an option — it is essential for survival

In the event of a power cut, you won’t have time to worry about water. You need to have sorted that out beforehand.

The simplest and most reliable solution is a good water filter. Buy it once, stash it in your emergency backpack, and you can drink from almost any water source — no matter how long the power cut lasts.

👉 Here you’ll find my water filter comparison with the current test winner →

Don’t have an emergency backpack yet? Then take a look at my article on the perfect emergency backpack — the filter is an absolute must-have.

📚 Official recommendations & sources

• BBK (Federal Office for Civil Protection) — Emergency Supplies Guide
• World Health Organization (WHO) — Technical Notes: Water Requirements in Emergencies (PDF)
• Thomas Gast — Urban Survival (Foreign Legion methods for water treatment)

Last content review: June 2026 | Carried out by Wolf

Read more at Blackout-Ready

]]>