← Disasters / Natural
Power Outage / Blackout
Lights out for hours or days. The most common emergency families face.
What it is / 01
A loss of electricity to your home, caused by storms, heat waves straining the grid, equipment failure, or planned shutoffs.
Warning signs
- Severe weather in the forecast
- Utility announces rolling blackouts or public-safety shutoffs
- Flickering lights or brownouts
Before / 02
- Store 1 gallon of water per person per day
- Put a headlamp by every bed
- Charge power banks and keep them topped up
- Bookmark your utility's outage map
- Install battery-backup CO alarms
During / 03
- Keep the fridge and freezer closed
- Unplug sensitive electronics to avoid surges
- Use flashlights, never candles near kids or curtains
- Run generators only outdoors, 20+ feet from windows
- Check on elderly neighbors
After / 04
- Follow fridge food safety rules: toss perishables above 40°F for 2+ hours
- Plug appliances back in one at a time
- Restock batteries and water you used
Items to have / 05
- Headlamps
- Battery lanterns
- Power banks
- Hand-crank NOAA radio
- Cooler and ice packs
- Fridge thermometer
Official resources / 06
Always follow instructions from local authorities.