When the power goes out, most of what matters comes down to a few decisions: keep the food cold, keep the air safe, keep your phone alive and know when to leave. Here is what to do, in the order you'll probably need it, based on guidance from Ready.gov, the CDC and the FDA.
In the first 15 minutes
- Get light before you move around. Use a flashlight or headlamp instead of candles, which add a fire risk you don't need in the dark.
- Find out if it's just you. Look for lights at the neighbors'. If theirs are on, check your breaker panel. If the whole street is out, report it to your utility and check its outage page on your phone.
- Stay away from downed lines. Treat any fallen wire as live and report it to the utility.
- Unplug appliances and electronics. Ready.gov recommends this to protect them from surges when power returns. Leave one lamp switched on so you can tell when it's back.
- Close the fridge and freezer, and note the time. You'll need that time later.
In the first few hours
Protect the food
Keep the doors closed. According to the CDC, food stays safe for about 4 hours in a closed refrigerator, 48 hours in a full freezer and 24 hours in a half-full one. If the outage may run past 4 hours, the FDA suggests having coolers on hand to keep refrigerated food cold. Ready.gov adds ice and a thermometer, and says to throw out food at 40°F or higher.
Save your phone battery
Your phone is your link to outage updates and to help. Lower the brightness, close what you don't need and charge from a backup battery before it runs low. A solar power bank with a hand crank gives you a fallback if you've used up its stored charge, but sun and cranking both add power slowly, so charge it fully before you need it.
Check on medical needs
If someone relies on a powered medical device or refrigerated medicine, act on that plan now. Ready.gov advises working out that plan with your medical provider ahead of time. It also says that if power is out for more than a day, you should discard refrigerated medication unless the label says otherwise and contact your doctor or pharmacist right away for a new supply.
The rule that matters most: carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas, and it's easy to overlook when you're trying to cook or stay warm without power. The rules are not complicated:
- Never run a generator, charcoal grill or camp stove inside your home, basement or garage. The CDC also says not to run them outside within 20 feet of a window, door or vent.
- Never heat your home with a gas stove or oven.
- Keep generators dry, and let them cool before refueling.
- Install battery-backup carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home.
- If the alarm sounds, leave immediately and call 911. If you feel dizzy, light-headed or nauseated and suspect carbon monoxide, get medical attention right away.
If it lasts overnight or longer
- Know when to leave. If it gets too hot or too cold at home, Ready.gov says to go to a community location with power. Check with local officials for open heating or cooling sites.
- Stay warm in one room. Close the doors to the rooms you aren't using and bring everyone together. Our winter storm guide has more on staying warm without power.
- Plan your water. If your home uses a well with an electric pump, the taps will stop when the power does. If you're told your water isn't safe, see how to purify water for drinking.
- Charge safely in the car. If you run your car to charge a phone, do it outside and never in an attached garage, even with the door open.
- Check on neighbors, especially older people and anyone who lives alone.
When the power comes back
- Plug appliances back in a few at a time.
- Go through the food. Ready.gov says to throw out anything with an unusual odor, color or texture, and anything that's been at 40°F or higher for two hours or more.
- Check the freezer. The CDC says you can refreeze or cook thawed food that still contains ice crystals or is at 40°F or below.
- Never taste food to find out whether it's safe. When in doubt, throw it out.
- Recharge your lights and batteries, and replace what you used.
What goes in a power outage emergency kit
Ready.gov's first step is to take an inventory of everything in your home that relies on electricity, then plan a backup for it. For most homes, the kit looks something like this:
- A flashlight for each person. Headlamps work well for tasks. A hand crank flashlight doesn't rely on spare batteries.
- A light for the room. A lantern such as this solar lantern lights a table better than a pointed beam does.
- Backup phone power, charged before you need it.
- Water and no-cook food for several days, plus a manual can opener.
- A cooler and a food thermometer.
- Warm bedding for each person if you get cold winters.
- A battery-backup carbon monoxide detector.
- Medication and a plan for medical devices.
- A way to manage without a toilet, if your water can stop, such as a folding portable toilet with liner bags.
For the full list, see our emergency supplies list for your home, or browse our Emergency Supplies collection.
Common questions
Can I use the toilet during a power outage?
Usually, if your home is on city water and sewer. If you rely on a well pump or a powered septic or sewer system, flushing may stop working or may not be a good idea. Ask your utility or service provider how your system behaves without power.
How long will food last in the fridge without power?
About 4 hours if the door stays closed, according to the CDC. Use a thermometer rather than guessing.
Activearo Outdoor sells some of the gear linked in this article. You don't need it to follow this guidance, which comes from the public sources listed below. Check those and your local officials for anything specific to your area.