Are Americans being told to prepare for a 72-hour power outage? Who said it, and what to do

What is being shared

On November 14, UNILAD ran the headline "Residents in multiple states urged to gather emergency supplies over potential 72 hour power outage". A day earlier, the Daily Mail's headline said "Widespread power outages threaten multiple US states as residents are told to gather emergency supplies now".

Read together, they sound like an official warning that the grid will be down for three days across several states. The 72 hours and the call to gather supplies in both go back to one electric utility's storm notice. The Daily Mail's outage wording also matches National Weather Service high wind warnings for the southern Oregon coast, which said on November 13: "Widespread power outages are expected." None of them gave a length of time. UNILAD's text at one point says the utility urged customers to be "prepared for up to 72 hours with essential services"; the notice says "without", and UNILAD quotes the line correctly further down.

What Pacific Power actually said

Pacific Power's news release of November 12, from Portland, Oregon, says it "is monitoring an approaching storm that could impact customers in parts of Oregon and California overnight." The forecast, it says, "indicates the potential for strong winds and rain beginning Thursday night into Friday afternoon, which could increase the potential for power outages."

Then the line behind the headlines: "Pacific Power encourages customers to always be prepared for outages. State and local emergency management organizations also recommend having an emergency plan and to be prepared for up to 72 hours without essential services."

The release names no agency, gives no estimate of how long outages might last and doesn't predict a 72-hour outage. Its steps are ordinary ones: update your contact details, sign up for outage alerts, restock your outage kit and keep phones charged. Pacific Power's own preparedness page goes further than 72 hours: it lists a "Two- to three-week supply of shelf stable food" for everyone in the home.

Is the 72 hour power outage warning real? What is confirmed, and what is not

Confirmed: a Pacific Power storm notice for parts of Oregon and California, dated November 12, with general advice to be ready for up to 72 hours without essential services. The "multiple states" in UNILAD's story are Oregon and California. The Daily Mail's also include New York, where it reported more than 20,000 customers without power after heavy, wet snow, mostly in Otsego and Chenango counties. That was a separate storm, unconnected to Pacific Power's notice.

Not confirmed: any federal, state or utility forecast of a 72-hour outage, in those states or nationwide. We found none.

That doesn't mean storms can't cut power for days: they can, which is why the advice exists. When we checked the National Weather Service's active alerts at about 1:45 a.m. ET on November 15, its Medford office still had a high wind warning out for the Curry County and south central Oregon coasts, saying "power outages may result." There were high surf warnings along parts of the Oregon and California coasts and wind advisories for parts of both states. Live warnings for every state are on our alerts page.

The Trump post is fake

A separate screenshot, shared on X, Threads and Facebook according to MEAWW News, looks like a Truth Social post from President Trump. It says "Stock up on at least 90 DAYS of food, water, and essential supplies. Withdraw your cash from the bank and keep it on hand," and warns of internet and cell service outages.

MEAWW News checked it on November 14 and wrote: "The screenshot, however, is fake and fabricated, as no such post exists on his official Truth Social handle." It searched the platform and accounts that archive his posts and found nothing matching. The post also says 90 days, not 72 hours. Earlier videos of Trump announcing a 90-day blackout were AI fakes too, Snopes found on November 10, as our check of the 90-day blackout claim sets out.

Why 72 hours?

It's shorthand for the standing advice to be able to manage on your own for a few days after a storm or disaster. Ready.gov puts it as: "After an emergency, you may need to survive on your own for several days." CDC's water guidance uses the same span: "Store at least 1 gallon of water per person, per day for 3 days."

Some agencies ask for more. Oregon's Department of Emergency Management runs a 2 Weeks Ready campaign: "enough supplies for you and everyone in your household to survive for at least two weeks following a disaster." And CDC adds: "Try to store a 2-week supply if possible." None of this is tied to a particular storm or date.

What three days without power means for your home

If you already keep a basic kit, you're most of the way there. These are the points official guidance makes for a multi-day outage; our power outage checklist has the full list, and Build a kit sizes one to your household.

• Water: CDC says at least 1 gallon per person per day for 3 days, which is 12 gallons for a family of 4 (our arithmetic). Store more for pregnant women, people who are sick, pets or a hot climate, CDC says
• Food: FoodSafety.gov says the refrigerator keeps food safe for up to 4 hours; a full freezer holds a safe temperature for about 48 hours, or 24 hours if half full and the door stays closed. Our food safety guide has what to keep and what to throw out
• Medicines and devices: Ready.gov says to have alternate plans for refrigerating medicines or using power-dependent medical devices. If the power is out for more than a day, it says to discard medication that should be refrigerated unless the label says otherwise, and to consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately for a new supply
• Generators: CDC says only use them outside, more than 20 feet away from any windows, doors and vents, and never inside your home or garage, even if doors and windows are open
• Carbon monoxide: Ready.gov says to install carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup in central locations on every level of your home, and not to use a gas stove or oven to heat your home
• Light and power: Ready.gov says to have flashlights for every household member and a portable charger or power bank, and to disconnect appliances and electronics to avoid damage from surges
• Heat and cold: Ready.gov says to check with local officials about heating and cooling locations open near you

What not to do

Don't buy 72 hours or 90 days of supplies because of a headline or a screenshot. Check what you already have against the list above and fill the gaps over time.

Don't go near downed lines after a storm. Pacific Power's notice says to stay away from all downed power lines: "Even if the lines are not sparking, they could be energized and extremely dangerous." Call 911 and your utility. And don't run a generator, charcoal grill or camp stove indoors: Ready.gov says they should always be used outdoors and at least 20 feet away from windows.