What to Do in a Power Outage: Before, During and After

When the power goes out, stay safe first: use flashlights instead of candles, keep your fridge and freezer closed, unplug electronics, and report the outage to your electric company. Never run a generator or grill indoors. The FDA says food in a closed fridge stays safe for about 4 hours, and a full freezer for about 48 hours.

Most outages end within a few hours. But winter storms, hurricanes, and heat waves can cause longer ones, so it helps to know what to do and to be ready ahead of time.

What to do right away

1. Check if it is just your home. Look outside to see if neighbors have power. If only your home is dark, check your circuit breaker panel for a tripped breaker.
2. Report the outage to your electric company by phone, app, or website.
3. Use flashlights, not candles, to lower the risk of fire.
4. Unplug electronics like TVs and computers to protect them from a power surge when power returns.
5. Leave one light switched on so you know when the power is back.
6. Keep the fridge and freezer closed.
7. Stay away from downed power lines. Always assume they are live, and call 911 or your utility.

Keep food safe

After the power comes back:

• Check temperatures. The fridge should be at 40°F or colder, and the freezer at 0°F or colder. An appliance thermometer helps.
• Throw out perishable food like meat, milk, eggs, and leftovers that were above 40°F for 2 hours or more.
• Frozen food with ice crystals or at 40°F or below can usually be refrozen.
• When in doubt, throw it out. Never taste food to check if it is safe.

If your fridge acts strangely after the outage, see our guide on a fridge that is not cooling but the freezer is.

Stay warm or cool safely

In cold weather:

• Close off unused rooms and gather in one room.
• Wear layers and use blankets.
• Let faucets drip slightly to help keep pipes from freezing.
• Never use a gas stove, oven, or grill to heat your home.

In hot weather:

• Stay on the lowest floor and keep blinds closed.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Go to a cooling center or a friend's home with power if it gets too hot, especially for older adults, babies, and people with health problems.

Use a generator safely

Ready.gov and the CDC warn that generators make carbon monoxide (CO), a gas you cannot see or smell that can kill quickly.

• Only run generators outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors, and vents.
• Never use one in a home, garage, basement, or shed, even with the door open.
• Plug appliances straight into the generator with heavy-duty outdoor cords.
• Never plug a generator into a wall outlet. This "backfeeding" can hurt utility workers and neighbors. Use a transfer switch installed by an electrician.
• Have working CO alarms with fresh batteries. If one chirps, see our guide on chirping smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

When the power comes back

1. Plug appliances back in slowly, one at a time, to avoid a surge.
2. Check your food using the guide above.
3. Reset clocks and devices.
4. Check your heating. If the furnace does not restart, our guide on a furnace blowing cold air can help.
5. Restock your emergency kit.

Build a power outage kit

Special tips

• Medical devices: If someone uses powered medical equipment, talk to your doctor and utility about a backup plan. Some utilities keep a priority list.
• Garage doors: Learn how to open yours by hand with the release cord.
• Sump pumps: A battery backup can keep a basement from flooding during storms. Flooding can also lead to hidden water damage.
• Check on neighbors, especially older adults and people who live alone.

The bottom line

In a power outage, stay safe with flashlights, keep the fridge and freezer closed, unplug electronics, and report it to your utility. Food lasts about 4 hours in a closed fridge and 24 to 48 hours in a freezer. Never run a generator, grill, or gas stove indoors. Build a simple kit now so you are ready for the next outage.