Prepare a Phone Charging Plan for an Outage

Estimate the phone's role

Start by listing what you would need your phone to do during a day without electricity: calls or texts with family, checking utility updates, navigation, or emergency alerts. Separate those needs from activities you could pause, such as video streaming or repeated social-media checks. This makes it easier to reserve battery for communication and information.

Imagine the outage begins at 8 a.m. with your phone at 60 percent. You may need it through the evening, so write down a few planned check-in times instead of keeping the screen active continuously. The goal is not to predict an exact battery duration; it is to avoid spending power without realizing it.

Compare three charging approaches

A battery pack is portable and can recharge a phone without needing a vehicle. Keep it charged, store the correct cable with it, and check its instructions for its capacity and charging method. A small pack may not fully recharge every phone, so avoid assuming it provides a certain number of charges without checking the specifications.

A vehicle adapter can provide another option if a car is available. Charge only while the vehicle is safely outdoors; never run it in a garage or other enclosed space. Car charging depends on access to the vehicle and suitable cables, so it is best treated as one part of a plan rather than the only option.

Low-power settings do not add electricity, but they can reduce avoidable drain. Lower screen brightness, disable nonessential background activity, and use airplane mode when you do not need a network connection. Keep calls and urgent messages available when connectivity matters.

Work through a sample day

For the hypothetical 8 a.m. outage, you could begin with the phone already at 60 percent, keep a charged battery pack in reserve, and check for utility updates at 9 a.m., noon, and 4 p.m. If the phone drops faster than expected, switch to low-power settings and send one concise message to household contacts rather than repeated updates.

If the outage continues, use the car adapter only if you can do so safely and without leaving a running vehicle in an enclosed place. Consider whether another household member can share a charging source, but keep essential communication devices available.

Make the plan easy to repeat

Put the pack and cable in a known place and make a reminder to recharge the pack after use. Write down the utility's outage contact method on paper so you do not have to search for it on a low battery. Ready.gov's preparedness guidance includes keeping an alternative phone-charging method available for outages.

A clear plan combines one portable source, a safe backup if available, and habits that conserve charge. Review it whenever you replace a phone or charging cable, and make sure household members know where the equipment is stored.