- Prepare ahead with supplies, water, charged devices and medications.
- During an outage, use flashlights, protect food and unplug electronics.
- For longer outages, prioritize water, food, charging and safe temperatures.
- Use generators safely and never run them indoors.
How to Prepare for a Power Outage
Power outages can happen during severe weather, equipment failures or other unexpected events. Knowing how to prepare for a power outage can help you stay safer, protect your home and reduce disruptions until electricity is restored.
Key Takeaways
Quick takeaway: Prepare ahead by keeping emergency supplies, water, medications and charged devices ready. During an outage, use flashlights instead of candles, protect refrigerated food and unplug sensitive electronics. After power is restored, inspect your home, check refrigerated food and restock emergency supplies.
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Before an outage | Charge devices, gather supplies, fill water containers and review your household plan. |
| During an outage | Use flashlights, protect refrigerated food, unplug electronics and avoid travel if conditions are unsafe. |
| After an outage | Check appliances, restock used supplies and watch for damage from spoiled food, frozen pipes or power surges. |
Prepare before the power goes out
The best time to prepare for a power outage is before severe weather or another emergency interrupts service. Taking a few simple steps ahead of time can help keep your household safer and more comfortable until electricity is restored.
- Make sure your emergency supply kit is stocked.
- Charge cellphones and other electronic devices.
- Stock up on ice and coolers.
- Fill sinks, tubs and other clean containers with water for drinking and hygiene.
- Have extra cash on hand, since ATMs and credit card readers may not work during an extended power outage.
- Keep flashlights, extra batteries and any needed medications in an easy-to-reach place.
- If cold weather is expected, prepare for winter power outage conditions with blankets, warm layers and safe alternative heat plans.
How to prepare for long term power outage events: Focus on basics first – water, food, medications, phone charging and a safe way to stay warm or cool.
What to do during a power outage
Need to know what to do during and after a power outage? Start with safety, limit food spoilage and avoid damage when electricity is restored.
- Don’t light candles – use flashlights instead to reduce risk of fire.
- Contact your local utility company, especially if power lines are down in your area.
- Pack your refrigerator with blocks of ice, set it to maximum cold and keep the door shut.
- Turn off and unplug appliances and electronics to avoid damage from a power surge when the power comes back on.
- Leave on one light so you’ll know when the power’s back on.
- Avoid unnecessary travel – traffic lights could be out, and power lines could be down.
- Stay away from downed lines and report them to your utility company or local authorities.
For broader severe weather planning, see our storm toolkit. If an outage happens during freezing temperatures, our tips on keeping pipes from freezing can help you protect your home.
Generator safety
- Only use one that’s been properly installed and ventilated.
- Maintain plenty of airflow space around the unit.
- Never use one indoors or near windows, vents or air intakes that could allow carbon monoxide to come inside.
- When using an emergency electric generator, get fresh air immediately if you begin to feel dizzy or lightheaded.
Emergency resources
In the event of an emergency, there are many local, state and national resources to help you and your family get back on your feet:
What to do after a power outage
Once power has been restored:
- Reconnect appliances and electronics carefully.
- Check refrigerated and frozen food before consuming it.
- Restock any emergency supplies you used.
- Inspect your home for issues such as burst pipes, flooding or power surge damage.
If severe weather also caused water damage, you may find it helpful to explore flood preparation or learn about home flood insurance.
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FAQs about power outage prep
Start by stocking water, nonperishable food, flashlights, batteries, medications and phone chargers. It also helps to charge devices early, keep cash on hand and make a simple family communication plan.
Use flashlights instead of candles, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed, unplug sensitive electronics and avoid downed power lines. If traffic lights are out or weather is severe, stay off the roads unless travel is necessary.
Have blankets, warm clothing and cold-weather supplies ready before the outage begins. In freezing weather, watch indoor temperatures closely and take steps to help protect your pipes from freezing.
Plan for several days without electricity by rotating food and water supplies, keeping backup batteries or chargers available, checking medication needs and identifying where your household could go if conditions become unsafe.
Reconnect appliances carefully, check refrigerated food, restock any supplies you used and look for issues caused by the outage, such as burst pipes, flooding or spoiled food.
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