What to do when the power goes out

The short answer

When the power goes out, check whether it is just your home or the whole street, report it to your utility, and switch on a flashlight, not a candle. Unplug electronics, keep the fridge and freezer closed, and run any generator outdoors only, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and vents (CDC, Ready.gov).

Most outages are short, and the first hour decides how the rest goes. The checklists below follow the order that matters: safety first, then information, then food, medicine and comfort. For how long outages typically run, see how long power outages last.

The first 15 minutes

1. 01Get light safely. Use battery flashlights and lanterns. CDC advises them over candles, gas lanterns or torches to cut the risk of fire.
2. 02Check if it is only your home. Look out at neighbors' windows and streetlights. If they are lit, go to your breaker panel and look for a tripped main or branch breaker before you call anyone.
3. 03Report the outage. Use your utility's outage map, app or phone line. Do not assume a neighbor has done it. Save the outage number in your phone now, while it is charged.
4. 04Look outside for downed lines. If a line is down, stay away from it and anything it touches, and call 911 and the utility. Details below.
5. 05Note the time. Food and medicine decisions later depend on how many hours the power was off. Write the time down.

The first hour

1. 01Unplug electronics and turn off appliances. Ready.gov advises unplugging or switching off appliances and electronics to avoid damage from surges or spikes when power returns.
2. 02Leave one light switched on. A single lamp or ceiling light left on tells you the moment power is back, without a surge from everything restarting at once.
3. 03Keep the fridge and freezer shut. CDC: the fridge keeps food safe for up to 4 hours with the door closed; a full freezer about 48 hours, a half-full one about 24. Full rules: keep food safe during a power outage.
4. 04Check on medical needs. Anyone on oxygen, CPAP, a nebulizer or a powered wheelchair needs a plan now, not in hour six. See the medical section below.
5. 05Charge and conserve phones. Lower screen brightness, close apps and switch to a power bank or a car charger in a ventilated, open space. Never idle a car in a garage (CDC).
6. 06Tune in. A battery or hand-crank weather radio keeps working when cell networks slow down. Picks: best emergency radios.

The first day

1. 01Track food temperatures. At the 4-hour mark, move refrigerated perishables you want to keep into a cooler with ice. Put an appliance thermometer in the fridge and freezer.
2. 02Handle refrigerated medicine. Ready.gov: if the power is out for more than a day, discard medication that should be refrigerated unless the label says otherwise, and contact your doctor or pharmacist. Insulin has its own FDA guidance, covered in our first aid and medical prep guide.
3. 03Set up water and sanitation. On a private well, the pump stops with the power. Fill containers if you have warning, and read how to flush a toilet without power.
4. 04Manage temperature. In cold weather, close off one room and read heating without power. In heat, read how to stay cool without power. Ready.gov: if heat or cold is extreme, go to a community location that has power.
5. 05Check on neighbors. Older adults and people who live alone are the ones to visit first.
6. 06Decide on backup power. If you run a generator, follow every rule in the next section. If you are sizing one, start with how to get electricity during a power outage.

Generator and carbon monoxide safety

• Never cook or heat with outdoor equipment indoors. CDC: never use a charcoal grill, hibachi, lantern or portable camping stove inside a home, tent or camper, and never use a gas range or oven to heat a home.
• Never plug a generator into a wall outlet. CDC warns against connecting generators to home circuits without approved automatic-interrupt devices; a generator left on line can endanger line workers. A transfer switch or interlock, installed by a licensed electrician, is the safe way to feed house circuits.
• Let it cool before refueling. Ready.gov: spilled fuel on hot engine parts can ignite.
• Know the symptoms. If anyone feels dizzy, headachy or sick and a fuel-burning device is running, get everyone into fresh air and call 911 or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (CDC).

Battery CO alarms are the cheapest insurance on this page. Compare models in best carbon monoxide alarms. For generator sizing and placement, BackupPowerAI has a generator CO safety guide.

Downed power lines

The Electrical Safety Foundation International says the ground around a downed line may be energized up to 35 feet away, and that you cannot tell whether a line is live by looking at it. Treat every downed line as live.

• Move away from the line and anything touching it, including fences, cars and puddles. Shuffle with small steps, feet together and on the ground (ESFI).
• Do not touch a person who is in contact with the line. Call 911.
• Do not try to move a line with a broom or stick. ESFI notes even wood or cloth can conduct electricity if slightly wet.
• Do not drive over downed lines. If one falls on your car, stay inside, honk for help and keep others away.

Medical devices and medicine

FDA advises people who use powered medical devices to notify their electric company and fire department that they have a device that needs power, and to ask the device maker or distributor whether it can run on batteries or a generator. Do not plug in a cord or device that is wet. If the device has no backup and the outage will outlast its battery, move to a place with power early, while roads and phone lines still work.

Sizing a battery for a CPAP or oxygen concentrator is a watt-hour calculation. BackupPowerAI covers it in its CPAP backup power guide, and our best CPAP battery backup page lists options.

What to turn off during a power outage

What not to do during a power outage

• Do not open the fridge to check on it. Use a thermometer you can read through a quick door opening, or wait.
• Do not use candles as your main light. CDC recommends battery flashlights and lanterns to reduce fire risk.
• Do not run a generator in a garage, carport, basement or near an open window.
• Do not use a gas oven, grill or camp stove for heat, and do not bring a grill indoors to cook.
• Do not judge stored food by look or smell. FDA: you cannot rely on appearance or odor to tell if it is safe.

What to keep within reach

These existing research-based picks cover the first day: a weather radio, a bright battery lantern, a power bank for phones and a sealed-battery CO alarm. They are based on manufacturer specs; we do not test products.

No. 1Emergency radio

Midland ER310 Emergency Crank Weather Radio

Best for: A household weather radio with several ways to stay powered

• Power: solar, hand crank, 3,500 mAh rechargeable Li-ion, or 6 AA batteries
• NOAA weather band; alerts sound when issued on your local channel
• LED flashlight with SOS beacon
• USB output to top up a phone

Tradeoffs

• · Midland notes the design dates to the early 2000s and may not charge newer phones (iPhone X and later) reliably. Weather alerts are not SAME county-coded.
• · Midland's FAQ notes solar tops up a charged battery rather than reviving a dead one
• · Micro-USB charging rather than USB-C

Check price on AmazonRead the full reviewSpecs: manufacturer page, checked Nov 1, 2026

No. 2Lantern

Lepro 1500lm Battery Powered LED Camping Lantern

Best for: Bright, flame-free room light that runs on stored batteries

• 1,500 lumens, dimmable (manufacturer rating)
• Runs on 3 D alkaline batteries (not included); not rechargeable
• Up to 12 hrs at 1,500 lm (manufacturer figure)
• IPX4 water resistance; daylight, warm, full and flashing red modes

Tradeoff

• · Not rechargeable, so stock spare D cells; lumen and runtime figures are self-reported.

Check price on AmazonRead the full reviewSpecs: manufacturer page, checked Nov 1, 2026

No. 3Power bank

Anker 737 Power Bank (PowerCore 24K)

Best for: High-capacity USB-C bank that can charge a laptop

• 24,000 mAh
• 140W max output
• 2× USB-C + 1× USB-A
• Smart digital display
• 630 g (22.22 oz)

Tradeoffs

• · No solar input; recharge from wall or USB-C
• · Heavy for a pocket

Check price on AmazonRead the full reviewSpecs: manufacturer page, checked Nov 1, 2026

No. 4CO alarm

First Alert CO710 Carbon Monoxide Alarm with 10-Year Battery

Best for: A no-install alarm you can set on a nightstand or carry room to room

• Sealed 10-year lithium battery (no battery changes)
• Listed to UL 2034
• Backlit display: CO level, peak level and temperature
• 85 dB alarm; tabletop design

Tradeoff

• · Tabletop only, and when the sealed battery ends the whole unit is replaced.

Check price on AmazonRead the full reviewSpecs: manufacturer page, checked Nov 1, 2026

Once the lights are back, use the follow-up checklist in what to do when the power comes back on. To find your weak spots before the next one, take the readiness score or print the blackout checklist.