Before the outage: a 10-minute prep
Weather forecast says a big storm is coming, or your utility sent a proactive shutoff notice. Here's the short list:
- Charge everything. Phones, tablets, laptops, power banks, headlamps, the portable power station if you own one.
- Fill water jugs. Even if your city has great infrastructure, pressure can drop during a long outage. Fill clean containers from the tap.
- Freeze water bottles. A half-frozen fridge with 4–6 frozen bottles stays cold for another 12–18 hours vs. an empty one. Bonus: they become drinking water later.
- Cash. ATMs and card readers fail during wide outages. $50–$100 small bills covers most of a day.
- Fill the car. Gas pumps need electricity. A full tank is your backup battery and your evacuation option.
During the outage: the first hour
Three things in order:
- Flip the main breaker to OFF. When power comes back, it often surges. A tripped main breaker protects your electronics. Flip it back on after 5 minutes of confirmed power.
- Leave the fridge closed. A closed fridge holds safe-food temperature for about 4 hours. A closed freezer: 24–48 hours. Every open adds heat.
- Radio on. Tune to a local AM news station or NOAA weather channel for restoration estimates and any advisories (boil-water, shelter-in-place, etc.).
What to eat, in order
- Fridge contents first (within 4 hours).
- Freezer contents next (24–48 hours if unopened).
- Pantry and shelf-stable last.
After 4 hours, check fridge food with a thermometer if you have one. Anything above 40°F that's perishable (meat, dairy, eggs, cut produce) goes in the trash — not worth the risk.
What about the freezer?
If ice crystals are still visible on food when power returns, it's safe to refreeze — though texture may suffer. If food is fully thawed but still cold (below 40°F), cook and eat it within the day rather than refreezing.
Cell service: the truth about outages
Cell towers have backup batteries that typically last 4–8 hours. In long outages, service degrades before it fully disappears. Three tactics:
- Text first, call second. SMS uses far less bandwidth and tower capacity.
- Call out-of-area. Local circuits get overloaded first. A call to a relative three states away will often connect when the neighbor's won't.
- NOAA radio never fails. Weather alerts run on different infrastructure than cell.
See the communication category for radios and family check-in plans.
Carbon monoxide risk spikes during outages
Never run a gas generator in a garage, basement, or within 20 feet of any door or window — even if the garage door is open. Never use a charcoal or propane grill indoors. A battery-powered portable CO alarm in the room where you're sleeping is cheap insurance.
When it lasts longer than a day
For outages that stretch past 24 hours, your 72-hour kit carries you through. If you've got a portable power station (see our picks), prioritize: phones, router, a single lamp, CPAP or other medical devices. The fridge becomes a flexible goal — worth trying to save if the station is big enough.
After power is restored
- Restore the main breaker first, then individual circuits one at a time.
- Check the fridge temperature before eating anything perishable.
- Reset clocks, thermostats, and any GFCI outlets that tripped.
- Recharge every battery, jug, and power station before the next one.
Next steps
If you haven't built a basic kit yet, read How to build a 72-hour kit — it's the foundation this whole post assumes. If you're ready to upgrade, the power station buying guide is where most families go next.