Published September 24, 2026 · Reserve Current editorial guide
Quick answer: List what must keep running, budget watts × hours, then add losses and reserve. Our example essentials use 1,903Wh a day at the outlet, about 2,488Wh of nominal battery capacity at 85% efficiency with a 10% reserve. A 1kWh station covers them for roughly 10 hours; beyond that you need recharging or fewer loads.
Decide what must keep running
A hurricane outage is not the moment to discover that a battery cannot run everything. Split your list into three groups: essential (refrigeration, medical devices, a way to receive information), useful (internet, a fan, lighting) and nice to have. Heating, cooking and air conditioning are energy-intensive and usually belong to a different plan.
A worked 24-hour essentials budget
These are illustrative planning numbers. Replace each one with a measurement or the value from your own device.
| Load | Average power | Hours per day | Energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator (measured average) | 50W | 24 h | 1,200Wh |
| Modem/ONT + router | 12W | 24 h | 288Wh |
| Box fan | 40W | 8 h | 320Wh |
| LED lamp | 10W | 5 h | 50Wh |
| Phone charging (three phones) | 15W | 3 h | 45Wh |
| Total at the outlet | 1,903Wh |
At 85% conversion efficiency the battery must supply about 2,239Wh. Keeping 10% in reserve means about 2,488Wh of nominal capacity for one full day. A 1,024Wh station, by the same arithmetic, covers roughly 10 hours of this load — before any idle draw of the station itself.
Stretch the energy you have
Run the fan only when you are in the room, charge phones during the day, and switch off the station's AC output when nothing needs it: an enabled inverter uses energy of its own. Keep the refrigerator closed. If a friend's house or a public cooling or charging center still has power, a recharge there can matter more than extra capacity.
Plan the recharge before the storm
Charge every battery to full while the grid still works. Solar panels can help after the storm passes, but output depends on sun, angle and shade, and panels must be stored safely during high winds. If you also own a fuel generator, it can recharge the station — outdoors only.
Safety rules that do not change
- Fuel generators run outdoors only, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and vents; never inside a home or garage (CDC, CPSC).
- Use battery-powered or battery-backup carbon monoxide alarms.
- A closed refrigerator keeps food safe for about 4 hours; a full freezer about 48 hours, a half-full one about 24 hours (FoodSafety.gov).
- If someone depends on powered medical equipment, make a plan with their clinician in advance (Ready.gov).
- Never plug a power station or generator into a wall outlet to feed the house.
Frequently asked questions
How long will a 1,000Wh power station last in a hurricane outage?
It depends on what you run. With our example essentials — a fridge, internet, a fan, a lamp and phone charging, averaging about 79W — a 1,024Wh station lasts roughly 10 hours at 85% efficiency with a 10% reserve. Run fewer loads or recharge to go longer.
Can a portable power station keep my fridge cold during a hurricane?
Often, if it can start the compressor and you budget the energy: a fridge averaging 50W uses about 1,200Wh a day. Keep the door closed; US food-safety guidance says a closed fridge keeps food safe for about 4 hours without power and a full freezer about 48 hours.
Is it safe to use a gas generator after a hurricane?
Only outdoors. CDC and CPSC guidance: at least 20 feet from windows, doors and vents, never in a house or garage, and use battery-powered carbon monoxide alarms. CPSC reports roughly 100 US deaths a year from generator-related carbon monoxide poisoning.
The US Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. This guide gives planning estimates, not a guarantee of runtime or safety.