Handling Sudden Power Outages

We're Here to Help

View Rates

What To Do During a Power Outage

An estimated 33.9 million households (about 1 in 4 nationwide) experience a power outage each year. These blackouts can happen without warning, disrupting routines and creating safety risks for individuals and families. What would you do if the power cut out, leaving you in the dark and unsure of your next steps?

Whether caused by severe weather, grid failures, or unexpected emergencies, handling a power outage requires quick thinking and preparation. This guide offers safety tips and preparedness advice to help you manage power outages. You’ll learn how to prepare your home and loved ones in advance, what to do during a blackout, and how to stay safe until power is restored.

Immediate Actions To Take During a Power Outage

When the power goes out, acting quickly and safely can help protect your home, conserve resources, and avoid preventable accidents. Here are the top steps to follow in the event of a power outage:

• Use flashlights instead of candles. This reduces the risk of fire and gives you safer, more reliable lighting. Keep extra battery-operated or battery-powered flashlights in your emergency kit.
• Unplug electrical appliances and sensitive devices. This prevents damage from surges when electric power is restored.
• Keep freezer doors closed. A full freezer will hold its temperature longer, helping preserve frozen food and reduce food waste.
• Report the outage to your energy supplier or network operator. Check for outage alerts via your mobile phone, Wi-Fi, or a battery-powered radio. If you have a landline, it may work even when cell service is down.
• Avoid downed power lines. Stay far away and treat all power lines as live, even if they appear inactive. Never try to move them.
• Check your fuse box or circuit breakers. A tripped switch could be the issue and is easily fixed. If power is out only in your home, your electrical system may need inspection by a licensed electrician.

Conserving battery life is also essential during a blackout. Limit unnecessary phone usage, and keep your cell phone and power banks charged ahead of time or plugged into a battery backup if available. If you have an automatic garage door, remember it will likely need to be opened manually, so take time to learn how before the power goes out.

Heating and Cooling Safety

Extreme temperatures can be dangerous when the power goes out, so it’s important to take steps to stay safe in both hot and cold conditions.

• Extreme cold: Wear multiple layers of clothing and use blankets or sleeping bags to stay warm. Close curtains at night to block drafts and shut doors of unused rooms to concentrate warmth into a smaller area. Drink warm liquids and do some easy exercises to warm up the body.
• Extreme heat: Stay hydrated, avoid strenuous activity, and move to shaded or cooler areas of the home, such as the basement or ground floor, when possible. Without air conditioning, it’s important to monitor signs of heat exhaustion, especially for vulnerable family members like children and older adults.

Never use grills, camping stoves, gas heaters, or gas stoves indoors for warmth or cooking. This can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be difficult to detect and fatal. Symptoms to look out for include impaired vision and coordination, headaches, dizziness, confusion, and nausea. Check that your carbon monoxide detector is powered by battery backup to keep your household protected if the electricity network goes down.

Managing Medical Equipment

Power outages pose unique challenges for those who rely on medical devices or other essential medical equipment. To stay safe, contact your local emergency management team or energy supplier to sign up for notifications about planned or unexpected outages.

How to keep medical equipment running during a power loss:

• Use backup power sources. Generators or battery packs can keep essential devices operational.
• Plan for alternative locations. Identify nearby hospitals, shelters, or community centers with power supplies and reliable access to the electricity network.
• Maintain a supply of batteries. Stock extra batteries for any battery-operated or portable medical devices to ensure continuous function.

Water and Food Safety

Maintaining food safety during a power outage prevents illness and reduces waste. A full freezer can keep items frozen for up to 48 hours if unopened (or 24 hours if half-full). Your refrigerator, however, will only keep refrigerated food safe for about four hours, so avoid opening it unless necessary.

• Keep food cold. Limit how often you open freezer doors and fridge compartments to preserve the internal temperature.
• Discard perishable items. When in doubt, throw out any food that has been above 40°F for over four hours, especially meat, dairy, fish, and leftovers.
• Stock nonperishable food. Canned goods and other shelf-stable items are ideal for extended outages or limited cooking access.

Water safety is just as important, especially if the electricity network disruption affects your local water supply:

• Store bottled water. Stock at least one gallon per person per day for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene.
• Boil or disinfect water. If officials issue a boil notice, heat water for at least one minute or use purification tablets before drinking.
• Avoid contamination. Don’t consume water that looks cloudy, smells unusual, or hasn’t been properly treated.

If you need to cook during an outage, use a grill or camping stove outside to avoid the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Stick with simple meals that use shelf-stable goods or frozen food that’s still cold and safe to eat.

Handling a Prolonged Power Outage

When a power outage lasts for an extended period, staying safe and comfortable requires extra preparation and flexibility. Start by keeping a battery-powered radio on hand to stay informed about weather updates and emergency alerts. Having a reliable source of drinking water is also critical, as water supplies can become limited. Remember, you’ll need to have stored at least one gallon per person per day.

Be prepared for disruptions to daily conveniences. For example, ATMs may be down, so keep cash in small bills at home for emergencies. Gas stations might also be unable to pump fuel without electricity, so make it a habit to keep your vehicles at least half full on a regular basis.

Additional tips for getting through an extended outage:

• Preserve power. Limit device use, activate low-power modes, and prioritize essential communication. Use power banks to recharge your cell phone or other small electronics.
• Protect perishable items. Use coolers with ice for refrigerated food, and open your freezer doors only when necessary.
• Maintain hygiene. Stock items like hand sanitizer, baby wipes, and extra trash bags to stay clean when water access is limited.
• Support well-being. Keep family members, especially children, engaged with games, books, or creative activities to reduce stress.
• Check on others. Reach out to neighbors, particularly seniors or those with disabilities, who may need extra help.

Electrical Safety During Power Restoration

Restoring power safely is just as important as getting through the outage itself. Start by checking your fuse box. A tripped circuit breaker could be the reason your home still lacks power even after the rest of the electricity network is restored. If you’re still without power, contact a licensed electrician to inspect your electrical system for possible damage.

Once electric power returns, inspect appliances and cords before plugging anything back into outlets. Look for signs of damage before reconnecting anything. Then, plug in devices gradually. Turning on too many electrical appliances at once can overload circuits and increase the risk of fire.

Power Outage Preparedness Checklist

Being ready before the power goes out can make all the difference in staying safe, comfortable, and connected. Use this checklist to prepare your home, supplies, and family members for any unexpected power outages.

✔️Emergency Power Outage Kit

• Flashlights (1 per person)
• Headlamps or lanterns
• Extra batteries (various sizes)
• Solar charger or fully charged power banks
• Battery-powered radio
• Backup power source, like a generator

✔️ Water and Food Supplies

• 1 gallon of water per person per day (at least a 3-day supply)
• Shelf-stable, ready-to-eat foods (at least a 3-day supply)
• Ready-to-eat baby formula or baby food (if applicable)
• Extra water for cooking and hygiene
• Pet food and water
• Manual can opener
• Paper products and disposable utensils
• Trash bags
• Camp stove or portable cooking device
• Propane or fuel (store safely)
• Lightweight cookware or pots
• Cooking/serving utensils
• Fridge/freezer thermometer
• Coolers with ice or ice packs
• Water purification tablets or a filter
• Food safety guide (what to keep vs. toss)

✔️Health and Hygiene Supplies

• First aid kit
• Medications (prescription and over-the-counter)
• Hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes
• Toothbrush, toothpaste, and personal hygiene items
• Toilet paper and tissues
• Feminine hygiene products
• Glasses or contact lens supplies
• Backup medical devices (if needed)
• Cash (small bills)
• Emergency contact list
• Copies of important documents (e.g., IDs, insurance, and prescriptions)
• Blankets and warm clothing for a winter outage
• Electrolyte drinks and battery-operated fans for a summer outage
• Activities for children (books, games, etc.)

Conclusion: Be Ready Before the Power Goes Out

Power outages can be unpredictable, but with the right preparation, they don’t have to disrupt your safety or peace of mind. From building an emergency kit to planning for medical needs and backup power, small steps taken now can protect your family, conserve resources, and reduce stress when the lights go out.

About Payless Power

Payless Power is a Texas energy provider that believes in making electricity accessible to all, regardless of credit history. We offer flexible, prepaid, and traditional energy plans with competitive pricing and no credit checks, empowering Texans to take control of their energy costs.

Fair Use Statement

We permit the sharing of this information for noncommercial use, provided there is a link back to it as a credit to Payless Power.

URL copied to clipboard