No. 1 A lineman's guide to power outages

Most folks think the power comes back in a few hours. I know how long it really takes.

Wade's Blackout Playbook shows you what to buy, what to do in the first hour, how to stay warm without poisoning anybody, and what to do the minute the lights come back.

Get the book
$27$19

Launch price through December 1, 2026. Instant PDF download. One payment, no subscription.

  • 52 large-print pages
  • 3 Walmart carts: $100, $250, $500
  • 6 printable checklists
  • 30-day money-back promise
Wade Calloway in his workshop, wearing a canvas work jacket and an olive cap
No. 2 Why this book

The outage isn't what hurts people. What they do during it is.

During the Big Freeze in February 2021, one Fort Worth children's hospital treated at least 13 kids for carbon monoxide poisoning in a single night. Families ran cars in garages and brought grills inside. They weren't careless. They were cold, and nobody had told them.

This book tells you, in plain words and large print, the way I'd tell my own family.

The cold

One warm room, a tent inside it, layers, and the signs of hypothermia older folks don't show by shivering.

The fumes

Which heat sources are safe, which are deadly, and the 20-foot generator rule that keeps your family breathing.

The comeback

Why fridges and freezers die the day the power returns, the $12 plug that stops it, and what food to toss.

No. 3 From Chapter 1

How long I'd plan for

What happenedPlan for
Equipment failure, just your area1 to 4 hours
Thunderstorm with downed treesHours to 2 days
Rolling blackouts in extreme cold or heatOn and off for days
Major ice storm or hurricane3 days to 2 weeks
Damage to the big grid itselfA month or more

And if only the line to your house is down, you're last on the list. Chapter 1 explains the order crews bring power back, and why the folks at the end of a country road wait the longest.

No. 4 What's inside

Nine chapters, from the night before to the morning after

  1. 1
    How the power really goes outThe five causes, why lights blink, and the order power comes back.
  2. 2
    The cartThree Walmart shopping lists with prices: $100, $250 and $500.
  3. 3
    The first 60 minutesA minute-by-minute list for the first hour, and who to call.
  4. 4
    Staying warm without killing yourselfEvery heat source ranked from safest to deadliest.
  5. 5
    Water, food and the fridgeHow much water, how to make it safe, and the 4-hour and 48-hour food clocks.
  6. 6
    Generators the right wayThe three rules, sizing in watts, and why backfeeding kills linemen.
  7. 7
    The long haulDay 7 to day 90: sanitation, medicine, neighbors and when to leave.
  8. 8
    When the power comes backThe $12 fridge plug, a 10-minute routine, and what food to keep or toss.
  9. 9
    Never do thisTwelve mistakes I've seen hurt people, on one page.
  10. +
    Six printablesChecklist, fridge card, generator card, family plan, supply tracker, phone numbers.
No. 5 Look inside

Big print. Real prices. Pages you can tape to the fridge.

Sample page: the $100 Walmart cart with items and prices
Chapter 2: the $100 cart, item by item
Sample page: opening of Chapter 8, When the Power Comes Back
Chapter 8: when the power comes back
Sample page: printable fridge door card
Printable: the fridge door card
Wade Calloway
No. 6 Who wrote it

From the other side of the outage

Wade Calloway spent his career as a lineman in North Texas, up the pole bringing neighborhoods back after ice storms, windstorms and the Big Freeze of 2021. On his YouTube channel he shares what he's learned about getting through a blackout: no fear, no fancy gear.

Every safety and food rule in the book comes from the USDA, FDA, CDC, EPA, FEMA or the American Red Cross, and each one is listed with its source at the back, so you can check it yourself.

Cover of Wade's Blackout Playbook
No. 7 Get your copy

Wade's Blackout Playbook

  • 52-page PDF, large print, made to be printed
  • Three Walmart carts with real prices
  • Six printable checklists and cards
  • Every safety rule linked to its official source
  • Free updated pages when prices or guidance change
Get the book
$27$19

Launch price through December 1, 2026. Secure checkout by Gumroad: card, PayPal, Apple Pay or Google Pay. If it doesn't help you, send a message through the support page within 30 days for a full refund.

No. 8 Straight answers

Questions folks ask

What exactly do I get?

A 52-page PDF you download right after checkout. It opens on any phone, tablet or computer, and it's laid out in large print so it's easy to read and print at home.

Is this a subscription?

No. You pay once and the book is yours. If I update the prices or the guidance, you get the new version free.

Should I print it?

Yes. When the power's out, your phone is your flashlight and your radio, and you'll want to save the battery. The six printables at the back are meant to go on the fridge, inside a cabinet and on the generator.

Are the prices current?

They were checked on walmart.com in November 2026 and rounded. Prices change by store and season, so treat them as a guide for your budget.

Is this medical, legal or electrical advice?

No. It's general information. Follow your power company, your local emergency managers, your doctor and a licensed electrician where they differ from anything in the book.

What if it's not for me?

Send a message through the support page within 30 days and you'll get a full refund.

I didn't get my download. What now?

Check your spam folder for an email from Gumroad first. Still nothing? Use the support page and include the email address you used at checkout.