Your Power Outage Plan: A Step-by-Step Checklist

Power outages are the emergency most families will face, whether from a summer heat wave, ice storm or failing equipment. A simple plan makes the difference between an inconvenience and a real problem.

Before the lights go out

• Keep flashlights or lanterns in easy-to-find spots in every room, with spare batteries.
• Charge phones and power banks when storms are forecast.
• Know how to open your garage door manually.
• Keep a cooler and ice packs on hand, and freeze water bottles to fill empty freezer space.
• If anyone depends on powered medical equipment, talk with the doctor and your utility about a backup plan.
• Sign up for your utility's outage alerts and know where to check restoration times.

When the power goes out

• Use flashlights, not candles, to reduce fire risk.
• Keep fridge and freezer doors closed. A closed fridge keeps food cold for about four hours, a full freezer for about 48.
• Unplug sensitive electronics to protect them from surges when power returns. Leave one lamp on so you know when it is back.
• Dress for the temperature, and gather the household in one room to share heat or stay cool.

Generator and heater safety

Never run a generator, grill or camp stove indoors, in a garage or near windows. Carbon monoxide is invisible and deadly. Install battery-powered CO alarms. Use only heaters rated for indoor use and keep them away from anything that can burn.

After power returns

Check food safety: throw out perishables that sat above 40°F for more than two hours. When in doubt, throw it out. Restock batteries and supplies you used, and note what you wished you had.

The 10-minute version

If you do nothing else today: find your flashlights, test them, charge a power bank and put a cooler where you can find it. That alone covers most outages.