Power Outages: What to Do Before, During and After the Lights Go Out

In any year, 25% of households may lose power. This Ready.gov page, written for children and their families, explains why outages happen and what to do before, during and after one.

What an outage is

Electricity powers lights, appliances and heating and cooling in most homes. A power outage, also called a blackout, is when it stops working, whether at home, in a store, at school or in streetlights and other utilities. It can last a few minutes, or days or even weeks after a disaster. Outages can happen for natural reasons such as strong winds, heavy rain or snow and falling trees. They can also be caused by an accident such as a car crash, or by a power system that cannot keep up with demand during a heat wave.

Before

Image from Ready.gov's page: a power outage emergency kit.

• Keep food that needs neither refrigeration nor cooking, and enough water, since an outage can make local water unsafe to drink.
• Have flashlights and spare batteries for everyone, or rechargeable lanterns or head lamps, and a battery-powered or hand-cranked radio.
• Plan things to do without power, such as a puzzle, a game or music on the radio.
• If someone takes medicine that must stay cold, have a way to keep it cold.
• If someone depends on a machine or wheelchair that needs power, think about backup batteries, and ask neighbors, friends or family whether you could go to their home if you need power.

During

• Keep the refrigerator and freezer closed. A refrigerator keeps food cold for about four hours, and a full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours.
• If you use a generator, keep it outdoors and away from windows.
• Never heat your home with a gas stove or oven, because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Have a grown-up unplug appliances such as the refrigerator and electronics, to avoid damage when the power returns.
• In extreme heat or cold, listen to local news to find out about heating and cooling locations open near you.
• If you need power for medical equipment, leave and go somewhere safer, such as a neighbor's, friend's or relative's home.

After

Image from Ready.gov's page.

• Help the grown-ups remember what was unplugged and check whether food is still safe to eat.
• "When in doubt, throw it out." Discard any food kept at 40 degrees or higher for two hours or more, or any that smells or looks different from usual.
• If the power was out for more than a day, throw away medicine that needed to be kept cold unless its label says it is fine. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist right away to get a new supply if you need it.

Sources

• Federal Emergency Management Agency, Ready.gov, Power Outages, from its Ready Kids section; rewritten in hubnx's own words.