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Home Safety

Power Outage Safety Tips: How to Prepare, Get Through It and Recover

Flashlight and battery lantern on a kitchen counter during a power outage

The USDA says a closed refrigerator keeps food cold for about 4 hours when the power goes out. A full freezer holds for about 48 hours. That clock is why outage preparedness starts before the storm. Here is how to prepare for a power outage, what to do while the lights are out, and what to throw away afterward.

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Before an outage: essential preparedness steps

  • List what runs on electricity. Ready.gov suggests writing down every item you depend on, then planning backup power such as batteries or a portable charger for phones and other electronics.
  • Keep a flashlight for each person, with fresh batteries. Use flashlights instead of open flames for lighting.
  • Stock non-perishable food and water. Our emergency kit checklist shows how much.
  • Plan for medical needs. Ask your medical provider what to do about electric medical devices and medicine that must stay refrigerated.
  • Install carbon monoxide alarms with battery backup on every level of the home.
  • Stay informed. Keep a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, so you can hear severe weather alerts and outage updates from local officials.

If you use a generator, decide now where it will sit, outdoors and far from the house. Read the manual before the storm, not during it.

During an outage: protect food and people

Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors shut. Every opening lets cold air out. USDA says a full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours and a half-full freezer for about 24 hours. If the outage will outlast the fridge window, move milk, meat and leftovers into a cooler with ice.

  • Never heat the house with a gas stove or oven. Ready.gov warns of carbon monoxide and fire risk.
  • Unplug major appliances and electronics. This protects them from power surges when electricity returns.
  • Check on neighbors, especially older people and anyone on medical equipment.
  • In extreme heat or cold, go to a community location that has power. Your local officials will know which cooling or warming sites are open.
a black and silver radio on a wooden table

Generator safety and carbon monoxide

A portable generator makes carbon monoxide, an odorless gas that can kill. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says never to run one inside a home or garage, even with windows open. Both Ready.gov and CPSC say to keep it outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages, with the exhaust pointed away from the house.

  • Keep the generator dry and protected from rain.
  • Plug appliances in with heavy-duty extension cords.
  • Let it cool before refueling.
  • Follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea and sleepiness are warning signs. If you suspect poisoning, get outside to fresh air, then call 911. For cord and outlet questions, see our home electrical safety guide.

After the power returns

  • Check the refrigerator and freezer. A refrigerator should read 40 degrees F or lower. Ready.gov says to discard food that has been at 40 degrees F or higher for two hours or more, or that looks, smells or feels unusual.
  • Look at refrigerated medicine. If the power was out for more than a day, Ready.gov says to discard refrigerated medication unless the label says otherwise, then ask your doctor or pharmacist for a replacement.

Sources: Ready.gov (Power Outages); USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (food safety during power outages); Consumer Product Safety Commission (Carbon Monoxide Information Center).

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