Power Outage Checklist

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How do I prepare for a power outage?

Put together an emergency preparedness kit with these supplies in case of a prolonged or widespread power outage:

  • Water—1 gallon per person, per day
  • Food—non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items and a manual can opener for canned goods
  • Flashlight (Do not use candles during a power outage due to the extreme risk of fire)
  • Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
  • Extra blankets and warm clothes
  • A safe alternate source of heat and extra fuel (wood, kerosene).
  • Extra batteries
  • First aid kit
  • Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
  • Multi-purpose tool
  • Sanitation and personal hygiene items
  • Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, deed/lease to home, birth certificates, insurance policies)
  • Cell phone with portable chargers
  • Family and emergency contact information
  • Extra cash
  • Keep your car’s gas tank full
  • If someone in your home is dependent on electric-powered, life-sustaining equipment, remember to include backup power in your evacuation plan
What should I do during a power outage?

Keep food as safe as possible.

  • Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. First use perishable food from the refrigerator. An unopened refrigerator will keep foods cold for about 4 hours.
  • Then use food from the freezer. A full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed.
  • If it looks like the power outage will continue beyond a day, prepare a cooler with ice for your freezer items. Inexpensive Styrofoam coolers work well.

Protect your electrical equipment.

  • Turn off and unplug all unnecessary electrical equipment (except your refrigerator and freezer).
  • Turn off or disconnect any appliances (like stoves), equipment, or electronics you were using when the power went out.
  • Leave 1 light turned on so you’ll know when the power comes back on.

Safety tips for using backup generators.

  • Use generators only as independent power sources. Keep them outside and run a cord inside. Don’t connect generators to main service panels. This could injure or kill utility workers trying to restore power.