The 72-Hour Blackout Protocol
⚡ Phase 1: Hours 0–6 — Immediate Response
The first six hours are your highest-leverage window. Act now — not after you've assessed.
Activate Emergency Radio
NOAA frequency, immediately. Get situational awareness: estimated duration, affected area, official guidance.
Fill Every Water Container
WaterBOB, Aqua-Tainers, bathtub, every pot you own. Water pressure may fail within 2–4 hours.
Charge All Battery Banks
If power is intermittent, charge everything immediately. Phones, power banks, radios. Do not wait.
Stage Your 72-Hour Kit
Move kit to central location. Brief all household members on contents and location. Assign roles.
Contact Your Network
Text family, neighbors, out-of-area contact. Establish status and plans. Two-way radios if cell is already down.
🔧 Phase 2: Hours 6–24 — Operational Setup
Establish Food Priority Sequence
Refrigerator first (spoils fastest), then freezer, then emergency supply. Plan meals ahead.
Deploy Lighting System
Lanterns staged in kitchen, bathroom, and gathering area. Headlamps assigned to every household member.
Establish Comms Schedule
NOAA monitoring every 2 hours. Two-way radio check-ins at set times. Written log of information received.
Security Assessment
Inventory your immediate neighborhood. Coordinate with trusted neighbors. Maintain information discipline.
⚙️ Phase 3: Hours 24–72 — Sustained Operations
Water Conservation Protocol
Reduce to essential use: drinking, medication, cooking, minimum hygiene. Calculate remaining supply every 24 hours.
Reassess Stay vs. Go Every 24H
Monitor NOAA, gather neighbor intel, watch for official evacuation orders. Criteria: Is the threat growing? Are supplies depleting?
Power Management
Solar charging during peak daylight. Priority: medical devices, emergency radio, communications. Use solar lanterns for zero power cost.
📋 Non-Negotiables — Pre-Built Before Any Emergency
- Emergency radio fully charged and NOAA pre-programmed
- Minimum 14-day water supply stored per person
- 72-hour food supply plus 30-day freeze-dried minimum
- 3 light sources per person with fresh batteries
- Complete first aid kit including tourniquet
- Cash on hand — ATMs fail without grid power
- Vehicle fuel above 50% at all times
- 30-day medication supply at all times
Gear Required for This Plan
- NOAA weather intel — your command information source
- Hand-crank + solar — power-independent operation
- Backup filtration when stored water depletes
- 1,000 gallons, no chemicals, no batteries
- 360° area lighting for base operations
- 12-hour runtime on AA batteries