Most outages start the same way, with a flicker and then silence. What you do in the first hour decides how much food you keep, how warm you stay and whether anyone gets hurt.
Keep the fridge and freezer closed
A closed refrigerator keeps food cold for about 4 hours. A full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours, or about 24 hours if it is half full. Every time you open the door, you lose cold air you cannot get back.
Use flashlights, not candles
Candles are a common cause of house fires during outages. Keep a flashlight or headlamp in an easy spot, with spare batteries.
Unplug what you can
Unplug computers, TVs and appliances so a power surge cannot damage them when the electricity comes back. Leave one lamp switched on so you know when the power returns.
Keep generators outside
Only run a generator outdoors, far away from windows, doors and vents. Never run it in a garage, basement or porch, even with the door open.
Check on people and save your phone battery
Check on older neighbors and anyone who relies on medical equipment. Then put your phone in low-power mode and send short texts instead of calls, since texts often get through when networks are busy.
Sources: Ready.gov and FoodSafety.gov power outage guidance. This is general reference information, not a substitute for professional medical care or emergency services.
