Most outage advice is scattered across a dozen articles you don't have time to read once the lights actually go out. Here's the whole thing in one place, split into what to do before, during, and after.

Before: build this once, forget about it

  • Keep a charged power station or a generator with fresh fuel — check it quarterly, not just when a storm is forecast
  • Store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day, for 3 days minimum
  • Keep a battery-or-crank radio, flashlights, and spare batteries somewhere you can find them in the dark
  • Freeze a few water bottles — they keep the freezer cold longer and double as ice
  • Know your utility company's outage-reporting number and save it in your phone
  • If anyone in the home depends on medical equipment (CPAP, oxygen concentrator, refrigerated medication), plan their specific backup power need in advance — don't discover the gap mid-outage

During: the first hour matters most

  1. Report the outage to your utility — don't assume someone else already did.
  2. Keep fridge and freezer doors closed. An unopened fridge keeps food safe for about 4 hours; a full freezer, about 48 hours.
  3. Unplug sensitive electronics to protect them from a power surge when service returns.
  4. Never run a generator indoors, in a garage, or near windows — carbon monoxide from a running generator is lethal and odorless. Keep it at least 20 feet from the house, pointed away from windows and doors.
  5. Use flashlights, not candles, to reduce fire risk — especially with kids or pets in the house.
  6. Dress in layers or use a battery fan rather than relying on the furnace or AC, which won't run without power unless it's on a transfer switch.

After: don't skip this part

  • Check the fridge/freezer: if it's still 40°F (4°C) or below with a thermometer, food is safe — when in doubt, throw it out
  • Reset clocks, routers and smart-home devices that lost power
  • Restock any water, batteries or fuel you used
  • If you used a generator, let it cool fully before refueling
  • Note what worked and what didn't — this is the best time to fix a gap in your setup while it's fresh

If you don't yet have backup power sized for your household, use our free wattage calculator now, while the power is on — it takes a minute, and it's the single item on this list most people put off until the next outage is already underway.