FAQ
Outage prep questions, answered plainly
How much cash should I keep at home for an outage?
There's no single right number. A practical starting point is enough to cover three days of essentials for your household, then build toward a week. Keep it in small bills, because stores taking cash during an outage often can't make change. See How much cash to keep at home.
What happens if card networks go down for several days?
Tap, chip, and phone payments stop working at many stores. Some businesses close; others go cash-only. Your money is still safe in the bank, but you can't spend it without cash on hand. See When card readers are down and Card networks down.
Is my money safe if my bank's app or ATMs stop working?
In the US, deposits at FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions are protected up to the insurance limits, whether or not the bank's systems are working. The problem in an outage is access, not safety. See Bank app or ATM down.
How much water should I store?
FEMA's Ready.gov recommends at least one gallon per person per day, for several days. Start with three days and work toward seven. Add extra for pets, hot weather, and anyone who is pregnant or ill.
Do I need a generator in an apartment?
Almost certainly not. Fuel generators produce carbon monoxide and are unsafe indoors or on balconies, and many leases ban them. A power bank covers phones and radios. A battery power station makes sense if you rely on powered medical equipment or need to work through an outage.
Power bank or portable power station: which do I need?
A power bank charges phones and small devices several times and fits in a bag. A power station is larger and can run a laptop, a light, a CPAP machine, or a small fan. Most households need a power bank first; add a power station only for a specific job. See Power bank vs power station.
What kind of radio should I get?
A radio that receives AM, FM, and NOAA weather bands, powered by batteries, a hand crank, or both. Many also have a flashlight and a USB port for charging a phone in a pinch.
How do I get news if the internet and cell service are down?
Use an AM/FM or NOAA weather radio, check building bulletin boards, and talk to neighbors. Before an outage, write down your local emergency radio stations and your city's alert system.
What documents should I keep on paper?
Copies of IDs, insurance cards, prescriptions, your lease or deed, and a list of key phone numbers. Store them in a waterproof pouch. Don't write down passwords or full account numbers.
What food is best for a multi-day outage?
Food your household already eats that doesn't need cooking or refrigeration: nut butters, canned beans and fish, crackers, cereal, dried fruit. Keep a manual can opener. During a power outage, eat perishables first.
Is an AI failure really a risk to payments?
It's one of several possible causes we use as a teaching scenario. Payments and apps increasingly depend on shared automated software, so a single failure can spread widely. The same preparation covers it as covers any card or internet outage. See Automation cascade.
Do you sell survival kits?
No prebuilt "survival" megakits. We link to individual everyday items on Amazon, each tied to a specific outage job, so you only buy what you're missing.