Blackout Preparedness in the USA: Safe Lighting, Essential Supplies & Candle Safety
When the lights go out, familiar spaces can suddenly feel unfamiliar. Whether a power outage interrupts a quiet evening in Dallas or leaves a neighborhood elsewhere in the United States without electricity, a little preparation can make the next steps feel more manageable.
At YOU ME & EMILIO, we appreciate the comfort of candlelight. But preparedness starts with a clear distinction: a candle provides light, not backup electricity, and it is not a safe way to heat your home. Battery-powered flashlights and LED lanterns should be your first choice during a blackout.
What Should You Do First During a Blackout?
Start with a flashlight, check on the people in your household, and consult your utility's outage updates when you can safely do so. Conserve your phone battery and follow local emergency instructions.
- Use a flashlight or battery-powered lantern to move around safely.
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed.
- Disconnect appliances and electronics that could be damaged when power returns.
- Stay away from fallen power lines and report them to your utility.
- If you rely on electrically powered medical equipment, follow your backup plan and seek assistance before backup power runs low.
Are Candles a Good Light Source During a Power Outage?
A candle can provide a small pool of light, but it also introduces an open flame. The CDC recommends flashlights and other battery-powered lighting instead of candles during a power outage. LED lanterns are a better choice for lighting shared spaces, and flashlights are more practical for moving from room to room.
If you choose to light a candle, treat it as an optional, closely supervised source of light and atmosphere, never the foundation of your emergency plan. In homes where children, pets, or limited space make a flame difficult to supervise, choose flameless lighting.
Can a Candle Heat a Room or Power a Device?
Do not use candles to heat your home. A flame releases heat, but that does not make a candle a safe or effective household heater. Candles also cannot run appliances or charge a phone. For those needs, plan around charged power banks or appropriately rated backup-power equipment used according to its instructions.
Do not place terracotta pots, cookware, or improvised enclosures over burning candles to create a homemade heater. Use candles only as designed, with the clearances and burn limits on their labels.
During a cold-weather outage, use clothing layers and blankets, and follow local guidance about warming centers if your home becomes unsafe. During dangerous heat, seek a safe cooling location. Candlelight does not solve either temperature emergency.
How to Use Candles Safely If You Choose to Light One
- Stay with the flame. Never leave a burning candle unattended. Extinguish it before leaving the room or going to sleep.
- Choose a stable surface. Use a sturdy, heat-resistant surface and the holder or vessel intended for the candle.
- Keep the area clear. Keep candles away from curtains, bedding, paper, clothing, and anything else that could catch fire.
- Protect children and pets. Keep candles and ignition tools out of reach and away from places where they could be knocked over.
- Follow the label. Observe wick-trimming guidance, maximum burn sessions, and the point at which the candle must be retired. A total burn-time estimate is not permission to burn it continuously.
- Do not improvise. Never use a candle to cook, warm cookware, or build a homemade heater.
Build a Blackout Kit Before You Need It
Keep essential supplies together in a place everyone in your household can find in the dark. Prioritize reliable lighting, communication, and personal needs rather than stocking large quantities of candles.
- Flashlights, battery-powered LED lanterns, and compatible spare batteries.
- Charged phone power banks and the correct charging cables.
- A battery-powered radio for emergency updates.
- Drinking water and nonperishable food that does not require cooking, plus a manual can opener.
- First-aid supplies, necessary medications, and a plan for temperature-sensitive medicine.
- Blankets and seasonal clothing, with a plan for a safer location during extreme temperatures.
- Supplies for pets and household members with specific care needs.
- Working smoke alarms and battery-backed carbon monoxide alarms.
If candles are part of your household routine, keep their safety instructions and an appropriate holder available. They should remain optional, not a substitute for battery-powered emergency lighting.
Food Safety When the Electricity Goes Out
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. According to the CDC, with doors kept closed, food can stay safe for up to 4 hours in a refrigerator, 48 hours in a full freezer, or 24 hours in a half-full freezer.
If an outage continues, use a cooler with ice or frozen gel packs to keep refrigerated perishables at 40°F or below. Follow the CDC's food-specific discard guidance rather than guessing from appearance or smell.
Generator Safety: Keep Exhaust Outside
Never run a portable generator inside a home, basement, or garage, even with doors or windows open. The CDC advises keeping generators outdoors at least 20 feet from doors, windows, and vents. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and use battery-backed carbon monoxide detection.
Never bring charcoal grills or camping stoves indoors, and never use a gas stovetop or oven to heat your home.
A Familiar Glow, With Safety First
Preparedness does not have to mean panic. It means having the practical essentials ready so you can respond calmly when normal routines are interrupted.
Our soy candle collection is part of the everyday atmosphere we love creating at YOU ME & EMILIO. Made for unhurried evenings and familiar scent rituals, our soy candles offer hours of candlelight across multiple, carefully supervised burn sessions.
How Long Do Our Soy Candles Last?
Our estimated total burn times by size are:
- Medium: up to 40 hours.
- Large: up to 60 hours.
- Extra large: up to 70 hours.
These are total burn-time estimates over the life of the candle, not continuous burning times. Actual burn time varies with the candle, wick care, and conditions. Follow each product's label for maximum burn sessions and when to stop using it.
If you choose to enjoy candlelight during an outage, keep the flame supervised and follow the product's care instructions. For emergency lighting, reach for your flashlight or LED lantern first.
Explore our soy candle collection →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a candle an energy source during a blackout?
A candle releases energy as light and heat when it burns, but it is not a source of backup electricity. It cannot power devices and should not be used to heat a room.
Are soy candles safer than other candles during an outage?
Soy wax does not remove the hazards of an open flame. Any burning candle requires supervision and proper use. Battery-powered lighting is the safer emergency-lighting choice.
Can I leave a candle burning while I sleep?
No. Extinguish every candle before going to sleep or leaving the room. Use a battery-powered light if you need overnight illumination.
Should I make a clay-pot candle heater?
No. Do not turn candles into improvised heaters. Use candles only as designed and follow local emergency guidance for keeping warm safely.
Does this guide mean a nationwide blackout is expected?
No. This is a general preparedness guide, not a prediction or report of an active nationwide outage. For current conditions, check your utility and local emergency-management updates.
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