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.

Very few people realise this: even a gas heating system will not work without electricity. Modern gas boilers require electricity for the control electronics, the pump and the ignition system. If the power goes out — the heating stops working too.

In winter, this can be life-threatening. In a poorly insulated building, the temperature can drop below 15°C within hours — which is dangerous for the elderly, babies and the sick.

Here are the 5 best methods for heating without electricity — assessed realistically.

Why your normal heating fails during a blackout

Whether gas, oil or heat pump — almost all modern heating systems require electricity:

• Gas boilers: electricity for electronics, ignition and circulation pump
• Oil-fired boilers: electricity for the oil pump and burner control
• Heat pumps: Fully electric
• District heating: Pumps in the network require electricity

Exception: A genuine wood-burning stove or fireplace without an electric control system operates independently of the mains supply.

Method 1: Wood-burning stove / fireplace (best solution)

Anyone with a genuine wood-burning stove or fireplace is best prepared for a blackout scenario. No electricity required; heat as long as there is wood available.

Requirements:

• Approved wood-burning stove with chimney
• Stock of firewood (at least 1–2 cubic metres for one winter season)
• Knowledge of safe operation

Heating capacity: A 6–8 kW wood-burning stove can keep a room of 30–50 m² warm.

Important: Only use dry, well-seasoned wood (dried for at least 2 years). Wet wood produces more soot and blocks the chimney.

Method 2: Paraffin heater (the most practical immediate solution)

A paraffin heater is the best immediate solution for anyone without a fireplace. It requires no electricity, no flue pipe and can be used in almost any room.

Advantages:

• No installation required
• Heat output 2–5 kW depending on the model
• Kerosene has a long shelf life (years)
• Can also be used for cooking

Important safety rules:

• Ventilate regularly — combustion air and CO fumes
• Never leave unattended
• Install a CO detector (battery-operated)
• Store a supply of 10–20 litres of paraffin

Method 3: Gas stove / camping heater

Gas stoves run on standard butane gas cartridges or propane bottles — no electricity, no installation required.

Campingaz heaters (e.g. Campingaz Bleuet) are inexpensive, compact and widely available in camping shops.

For emergencies: Stock up on a few gas cartridges (type EN 417) — they last for years and are available everywhere.

Note: Butane gas no longer works reliably below 0°C. In winter: opt for propane gas.

Also suitable for cooking — double the benefit during a power cut.

Method 4: Passive heat storage (free)

Before the power goes out — or in the first few hours afterwards — you can actively store heat:

• Reduce the living space: Gather everyone in one room, seal the doors
• Close the curtains: Reduces heat loss through windows by 10–20%
• Seal door gaps: Place towels or blankets in front of draughty doors
• Fill hot water bottles: With hot water (camping stove) → keeps you warm for hours
• Use sleeping bags: A good sleeping bag (-10°C) replaces a heater whilst sleeping

Method 5: Candle heating (emergency-emergency solution)

Several candles in a small, well-insulated room actually generate measurable heat. One candle gives off approx. 80 watts of heat — 10 candles are equivalent to a small heater.

For absolute emergencies only:

• Never leave unattended
• Never near flammable materials
• Always have a bucket of water ready
• Keep CO alarms running

Comparison table: Which method suits you best?

My recommendation for most households

If you don’t have a fireplace: stock up on a paraffin heater and 10 litres of paraffin. This is a one-off cost of €150–250 and will keep you and your family warm in a winter blackout scenario.

Also: At least one good sleeping bag per person (-10°C), a few hot water bottles and a camping stove.

You can also find all of this neatly packed in the right emergency rucksack:
👉 Emergency backpack comparison: What really works for winter →

Also interesting: Cooking without electricity: The best methods

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 or official recommendations.

Act immediately in an emergency: always try to reach the emergency number 112. You can find official recommendations on crisis preparedness at the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK). Last checked: June 2026.

During a blackout, your smartphone is your most important tool. You need it for emergency calls, for alerts from the BBK, for communicating with your family — and for everything you haven’t printed out beforehand.

The problem: the average battery life of a smartphone is 1–2 days. After that, it’s just an expensive paperweight.

Here are the 6 best ways to charge your mobile phone without electricity — from immediate solutions to long-term ones.

Why your mobile is vital for survival during a blackout

The “Cell Broadcast” warning system sends emergency alerts directly to your mobile — no app, no internet, just via the mobile network. As long as the masts are operational (they usually have emergency power for 24–72 hours), you can receive official information via this system.

Also: coordinating with family, photos of important documents, offline maps, torch app.

In short: an empty mobile phone during a blackout is a real safety risk.

Method 1: Power bank (the most important immediate solution)

A fully charged power bank is the simplest and most reliable solution. It just needs to be charged beforehand — that’s all you need to do.

What to look out for:

• Capacity: At least 20,000 mAh for 3–5 charges of a standard smartphone
• Output power: 18W+ for fast charging
• Number of ports: 2–3 ports to charge multiple devices simultaneously
• Durability: For your emergency rucksack: shockproof and water-resistant

Tip: Charge your power bank once a month — otherwise it will slowly lose capacity.

A power bank belongs in every emergency rucksack. You can find my comparison of the best emergency backpacks here:
👉 Emergency backpack with power bank: The best models →

Method 2: Car charger (if you have a car)

Almost every car these days has a USB port or a 12V cigarette lighter socket. As long as there’s petrol or diesel in the tank, you can use it to charge.

Here’s how:

• Plug the car USB charger into the cigarette lighter
• You do NOT need to leave the engine running — many vehicles have standby power
• However: Only charge for a short time, otherwise you’ll drain the car battery

Important: Start the engine if you’re charging for longer, otherwise the car won’t start again.

Method 3: Solar charger (independent and sustainable)

Portable solar panels can charge devices directly via USB — or charge a power bank to use as a backup.

Types:

• Foldable solar panels (10–40W): Ideal for the balcony or garden, charges a power bank or your mobile phone directly
• Solar power bank: Power bank with built-in solar panel — slower, but practical

Realistic expectations:
A 20W panel charges a mobile phone in 2–3 hours on a sunny day. Significantly slower on cloudy days.

Recommendation: Use solar power as a supplement to a power bank — not as the sole solution.

Method 4: Power station / Portable power bank

Power stations (also known as ‘portable power stations’) are larger batteries with a proper power socket. You can use them to power not only mobile phones, but also laptops, small devices and even lighting.

Well-known brands: Jackery, EcoFlow, Bluetti

Capacities: From 300 Wh (charges a mobile phone 25–30 times) to 2,000+ Wh

Ideal for: Longer power cuts, families, home office equipment

Drawback: Expensive (€300–2,000), heavy, must be charged beforehand

Method 5: Hand-crank charger

Hand-crank generators produce electricity by turning a handle. Sounds good in theory — in practice, you often have to crank for 20–30 minutes to get an hour’s mobile phone battery life.

What it’s good for: As an emergency backup, especially for hand-crank radios that also have a USB output.

Buying tip: Buy a hand-crank radio with a USB output — that way you get two essential blackout tools in one.

Method 6: Neighbours, family, community

Sounds obvious, but it’s true: during a blackout, neighbours help each other. If you have a power station, you can charge your neighbours’ mobile phones. If you run a generator, you can share the electricity.

Tip: Start talking to your neighbours now about crisis preparedness. A well-connected community is worth more than any equipment in an emergency.

Saving battery during a blackout: these settings will save your battery

As well as charging, saving power is just as important. With these settings, your mobile will last 2–3 times longer:

• 📴 Switch to flight mode when no network is available (saves a massive amount of power)
• 🔆 Set screen brightness to minimum
• 📡 Switch off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS when not needed
• 🌙 Enable power-saving mode
• 📱 Close background apps
• 🌡️ Don’t leave your mobile in the cold — batteries lose up to 50% of their capacity in cold weather

My recommendation: The Blackout Trio for communication

1. 20,000 mAh power bank — always fully charged, always with you
2. Car charging cable — if you have a car
3. Hand-crank radio with USB — receive updates AND emergency charging

With these three items, you’ll be well prepared for a 72-hour blackout in terms of communication.

Conclusion: Preparation costs €30 — not preparing could cost you your life

A good power bank costs €30–50. That’s less than a meal out. And it could make all the difference in an emergency.

You can find all communication tools and more in my emergency backpack comparison:
👉 The perfect emergency backpack: Everything you really need →

Don’t have a drinking water backup yet? Then read this too: Purifying drinking water without electricity

Read more at Blackout-Ready