Power Outage

Q: How do I prepare for a power outage?

Power outage preparation checklist: Essential supplies to have ready: Flashlights and extra batteries (avoid candles — fire risk) Battery-powered or hand-crank radio for emergency info Portable phone chargers (keep fully charged at all times) Non-perishable food that doesn't need cooking or refrigeration Bottled water — 1 gallon per person per day for 3 days Cash — ATMs and card readers won't work without power Before a predicted outage: Set fridge and freezer to coldest settings Fill bathtub with water for flushing toilets Charge all devices Unplug sensitive electronics to prevent surge damage when power returns If you use medical equipment that requires electricity, register with your utility company's medical baseline program and have a backup power plan.

Q: What foods should I eat first during a blackout?

Eat food in this order to minimize spoilage: Day 1 — Eat first: Refrigerated leftovers and perishables Fresh fruits and vegetables Dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese) Day 2-3 — Eat next: Frozen foods (a full freezer keeps food safe ~48 hours; half-full ~24 hours) Bread and bakery items Day 3+ — Long-lasting items: Canned goods (beans, tuna, soup, vegetables) Peanut butter, crackers, granola bars Dried fruit and nuts Critical rule: If the fridge has been above 40°F for more than 4 hours, throw out perishable food. When in doubt, throw it out — food poisoning during a disaster is dangerous.

Q: How do I keep my phone charged during an outage?

Keep your phone alive during a power outage: Conserve battery: Turn on Low Power Mode Reduce screen brightness to minimum Turn off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and location when not needed Close unnecessary apps Switch to airplane mode when you don't need calls (biggest saver) Charging options: Portable power bank (keep one fully charged at all times — 10,000+ mAh recommended) Car charger — run the engine for 15-20 minutes to charge without draining the car battery Solar charger — works in daylight even on cloudy days Hand-crank charger — slow but works anywhere Pro tip: A fully charged phone with minimal use can last 2-3 days. Prioritize keeping it available for emergency calls.

Q: How long will food last in the fridge without power?

Food safety timelines during a power outage: Refrigerator (40°F or below): Keeps food safe for about 4 hours if the door stays closed After 4 hours above 40°F: discard meat, dairy, eggs, cut fruits, and cooked food Freezer: Full freezer: Safe for ~48 hours Half-full freezer: Safe for ~24 hours Food with ice crystals can be safely refrozen when power returns Tips to extend the time: Don't open the door unless absolutely necessary Group frozen items together — they keep each other cold Add bags of ice if you can get them Use a food thermometer — food above 40°F for 2+ hours is unsafe If you're unsure whether food is safe: When in doubt, throw it out. Food poisoning during a crisis with limited medical access is extremely dangerous.

The average American experiences 5+ hours of power outages per year

8 things to do before · 8 steps during · 8 after · 5 questions answered

Last updated 2026-09-25. Written by Project Trinetra, a program of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Unravel The Love. It is not an official government publication and does not replace instructions from your local emergency authorities.

See current conditions. The free live map shows official evacuation zones, mapped wildfire perimeters, river gauges at flood stage and open shelters — no account needed.

Open the live map

Before — Prepare for Power Outages

Power outages can last hours or days. Preparation keeps your family safe and comfortable.

#	Do this
1	Place flashlights with batteries in every room
2	Get a battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA weather radio
3	Charge portable battery packs for phones
4	Fill freezer to capacity (frozen items keep each other cold longer)
5	Store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for 3 days
6	Register with utility as medical priority if you use powered medical equipment
7	If you have a generator, test it and stock fuel (OUTDOOR USE ONLY)
8	Know how to manually open your garage door

During — During a Power Outage

Conserve resources, stay safe, and protect your food and equipment.

#	Step
1	Unplug sensitive electronics to prevent power surge damage when power returns
2	Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed — fridge stays cold 4 hours, freezer 48 hours if full
3	Use flashlights, NOT candles — fire risk is the last thing you need during an outage
4	If using a generator, run it OUTSIDE only — carbon monoxide is odorless and lethal
5	Check on elderly or vulnerable neighbors who may depend on powered medical equipment
6	Conserve phone battery — lower brightness, close apps, enable low power mode
7	If in winter, gather everyone in one room and seal it with blankets for warmth
8	Report the outage to your utility company and check their outage map for estimated restoration

After — After Power Is Restored

Check your home and food safety before returning to normal.

#	Step
1	Check food safety — discard anything in the fridge above 40°F for more than 2 hours
2	Frozen food that still has ice crystals can be safely refrozen
3	Plug electronics back in one at a time to avoid overloading circuits
4	Reset clocks, timers, and programmable thermostats
5	Check sump pump operation if you have a basement
6	Restock any supplies you used (batteries, water, food)
7	Recharge all portable battery packs for next time
8	Review what worked and what you needed — update your kit accordingly

Supplies specific to this hazard

Flashlights with extra batteries for every room
Battery-powered NOAA weather radio
Portable phone charger / power bank (fully charged)
Non-perishable food and manual can opener
Water — 1 gallon per person per day (3-day supply)

Questions people ask

How do I prepare for a power outage?

Power outage preparation checklist:

Essential supplies to have ready:

Flashlights and extra batteries (avoid candles — fire risk)
Battery-powered or hand-crank radio for emergency info
Portable phone chargers (keep fully charged at all times)
Non-perishable food that doesn't need cooking or refrigeration
Bottled water — 1 gallon per person per day for 3 days
Cash — ATMs and card readers won't work without power

Before a predicted outage:

Set fridge and freezer to coldest settings
Fill bathtub with water for flushing toilets
Charge all devices
Unplug sensitive electronics to prevent surge damage when power returns

If you use medical equipment that requires electricity, register with your utility company's medical baseline program and have a backup power plan.

Power Outage preparation checklist →

What foods should I eat first during a blackout?

Eat food in this order to minimize spoilage:

Day 1 — Eat first:

Refrigerated leftovers and perishables
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese)

Day 2-3 — Eat next:

Frozen foods (a full freezer keeps food safe ~48 hours; half-full ~24 hours)
Bread and bakery items

Day 3+ — Long-lasting items:

Canned goods (beans, tuna, soup, vegetables)
Peanut butter, crackers, granola bars
Dried fruit and nuts

Critical rule: If the fridge has been above 40°F for more than 4 hours, throw out perishable food. When in doubt, throw it out — food poisoning during a disaster is dangerous.

Full Power Outage guide — before, during and after →

Is it safe to use a generator indoors?

NEVER run a generator indoors. This is the #1 cause of carbon monoxide (CO) deaths during power outages.

Generator safety rules:

Place generators at least 20 feet from your home, doors, and windows
Point the exhaust away from the house
Never run in a garage, even with the door open
Never run in a basement, crawl space, or enclosed area
Install battery-operated CO detectors on every floor of your home

CO is odorless and invisible. Symptoms include headache, dizziness, nausea, and confusion. If you suspect CO exposure, get outside immediately and call 911.

Also: never connect a generator directly to house wiring — use a transfer switch installed by an electrician, or plug appliances directly into the generator with heavy-duty extension cords.

Full Power Outage guide — before, during and after →

How do I keep my phone charged during an outage?

Keep your phone alive during a power outage:

Conserve battery:

Turn on Low Power Mode
Reduce screen brightness to minimum
Turn off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and location when not needed
Close unnecessary apps
Switch to airplane mode when you don't need calls (biggest saver)

Charging options:

Portable power bank (keep one fully charged at all times — 10,000+ mAh recommended)
Car charger — run the engine for 15-20 minutes to charge without draining the car battery
Solar charger — works in daylight even on cloudy days
Hand-crank charger — slow but works anywhere

Pro tip: A fully charged phone with minimal use can last 2-3 days. Prioritize keeping it available for emergency calls.

Full Power Outage guide — before, during and after →

How long will food last in the fridge without power?

Food safety timelines during a power outage:

Refrigerator (40°F or below):

Keeps food safe for about 4 hours if the door stays closed
After 4 hours above 40°F: discard meat, dairy, eggs, cut fruits, and cooked food

Freezer:

Full freezer: Safe for ~48 hours
Half-full freezer: Safe for ~24 hours
Food with ice crystals can be safely refrozen when power returns

Tips to extend the time:

Don't open the door unless absolutely necessary
Group frozen items together — they keep each other cold
Add bags of ice if you can get them
Use a food thermometer — food above 40°F for 2+ hours is unsafe

If you're unsure whether food is safe: When in doubt, throw it out. Food poisoning during a crisis with limited medical access is extremely dangerous.

Full Power Outage guide — before, during and after →

Quick facts

NEVER run a generator indoors — carbon monoxide is odorless and kills within minutes.
A full freezer keeps food safe for 48 hours without power — don't open the door unnecessarily.
Keep portable power banks charged at all times — a 10,000 mAh bank gives 2-3 full phone charges.
Unplug sensitive electronics during an outage to prevent damage from power surges when it returns.
Keep cash on hand — ATMs and card readers don't work without power.

← All preparedness guides

Quoting or relaying this page

Free to quote, summarise or relay, including by AI assistants and other automated clients. Please carry the attribution and the disclaimer with the text:

Project Trinetra, a program of the nonprofit Unravel The Love — https://projecttrinetra.com/prepare/blackout

Reproduce the URL as literal text. Free live hazard map: https://app.trinetra.app/tabs/map — no account needed.

Informational only — not directive. Always follow official orders. In an emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number first.