BE PREPARED FOR A POWER OUTAGE - Prepare, Survive, and Be Safe

Sep 27, 2026

Power outages are often triggered by severe weather or natural disasters, and they can disrupt communications, water utilities, transportation, businesses, and essential services. Loss of electricity may also lead to food spoilage and water contamination, increase risks of injuries, disease, or death, and prevent the use of medical devices. The guidance provides practical steps to protect yourself before, during, and after an outage, including planning, alarms, supplies, generator safety, food safety, and emergency decision-making.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Protect Yourself from a Power Outage

How to Stay Safe Before

Survive During a Power Outage

Be Safe After a Power Outage

FEMA V-1008/December 2023 BE PREPARED FOR A POWER OUTAGE Power outages are more likely to occur during severe weather events, such as strong thunderstorms, hurricanes and winter storms, or other natural disasters, such as wildfires . A power outage is when the electrical power is lost unexpectedly. Power outages . . . may disrupt communications, water utilities, and transportation for along time. may cause businesses, stores, gas stations, ATMs, banks, schools and other services to close. may cause food spoilage and water contamination. may cause injuries, disease or death, or prevent use of medical devices. PROTECT YOURSELF FROM A POWER OUTAGE Keep freezers and refrigerators closed. Use generators outdoorsand at least 20 feet away from building openings. Stay fire safe. Do not use a gas stove to heat your home. Unplug appliances and electronics to avoid damage from electrical surges. Make a plan for refrigerating medicines and powering medical devices. If safe, go to an alternate location for heat or cooling. Keep mobile phones and electronic equipment charged before a power outage. HOW TO STAY SAFE FROM A POWER OUTAGE Prepare NOW Create a communications plan and keep a paper copy. Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms with battery backup (if hardwired) onevery level of your home and near sleeping areas. Learn the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, which include flu-like symptoms. Talk to your doctor to make a plan for how you will use your medical devices that need electricity, store your medications and stay safe during a power outage. Gather supplies to last for several days. Check your supplies regularly and before predicted extreme weather events. If you aren’t able to build a separate emergency supply kit, make sure you know where items that you already have are located. Keep mobile phones and other electronic equipment charged before a power outage. Plan for alternative power sources that you can use to charge devices. Determine whether your phone will work in a power outage and how long your battery backup (if applicable) will last. Remember that landline phones will not work if the lines are damaged. Make sure your vehicle’s gas tank has plenty of fuel before predicted extreme weather events in case there’s a power outage. Install and use your generator safely. Store fuel safely. Plan to prioritize the things you will need to plug in. You may not be able to power all appliances at one time. Prepare to keep the refrigerator and freezer cold with ice. Keep a thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer so that you can make sure food stays at a safe temperature. Be prepared to throw away food that’s no longer at a safe temperature. Survive DURING Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Use generators, camp stoves or charcoal grills outdoors, at least 20 feet away from any building openings like windows, doors or garages. Never use a gas stovetop, oven, grill or dryer to heat your home. Stay fire safe. Use flashlights, lanterns and other battery-powered lights. Don’t use gas stoves or candles to heat your home. Always use fireplaces, portable heaters and wood-burning stoves safely. Don’t leave a vehicle running inside a garage, even if the garage door is left open. If you use your vehicle as a source of power or warmth, make sure to run it ina well-ventilated place outside. Keep freezers and refrigerators closed. A refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours. A full freezer will stay a safe temperature for about 48 hours. Do not store food in the outside or in the snow during cold weather. Unplug appliances, equipment and electronics to avoid damage from electrical surges. Use surge protection devices. Pay attention to water advisories. Boil water or use bottled water from your emergency supply kit, if needed. Be Safe AFTER When in doubt, throw it out! Throwaway any refrigerated food that has been exposed to temperatures 40 degrees Fahre

FAQs

What causes power outages and what impacts can they have?

Power outages can occur during severe weather or natural disasters. They may disrupt communications, water and transportation, cause services to close, and increase risks such as food spoilage, water contamination, injuries, disease, or death, and loss of medical device power.

What should you do before a power outage happens?

Create a communications plan, install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms with battery backup, gather supplies for several days, and check them regularly before extreme weather. Charge mobile phones and electronic equipment, plan alternative power sources, and determine phone and battery backup operation.

How can you stay safe during and after a power outage?

During an outage, avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, keep generators/camp stoves outdoors at least 20 feet from openings, and never use gas appliances to heat your home. Keep refrigerators and freezers closed, unplug to prevent electrical surge damage, and follow water advisories. After the outage, discard refrigerated food exposed too long at unsafe temperatures, replace refrigerated medications when the outage lasts a day or more, and seek guidance for dependance on refrigerated drugs.

Sep 27, 2026

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