When the power suddenly goes out, it can be tempting to immediately check your appliances, open the refrigerator, or search for a flashlight. But the first thing to do when the power goes out is to stay calm and check for immediate safety hazards.
Look around your home for fire, smoke, sparks, burning smells, electrical damage, or other dangers. If everything appears safe, use a flashlight or battery-powered light, unplug sensitive electronics, and determine whether the outage is limited to your home or affects the wider area.
A few simple steps can protect your family, food, electronics, and home during the outage.
What Is the First Thing You Should Do When the Power Goes Out?
The first priority is safety.
Before doing anything else, quickly check your surroundings.
Look for:
- Smoke or fire
- Sparks
- Burning smells
- Damaged electrical wiring
- Fallen power lines outside
- Floodwater near electrical equipment
- Other immediate hazards
If there is a fire or another serious emergency, leave the property if it is safe to do so and contact emergency services.
If everything is safe, grab a flashlight rather than using candles. Battery-powered lights reduce the risk of an accidental fire during an outage. Ready.gov recommends using flashlights, lanterns, and other battery-powered lighting during power outages.
Step 1: Check Whether the Outage Is Only in Your Home
After confirming that everyone is safe, determine whether the outage is local to your home or affecting your neighborhood.
Check:
- Lights in nearby homes
- Hallway or building lights
- Streetlights
- Your electrical panel
- Your utility company’s outage information
If only your home has lost power, check whether a circuit breaker has tripped.
If the entire neighborhood is dark, the problem is more likely to be with the utility supply.
Do not repeatedly reset a breaker if it immediately trips again. A repeatedly tripping breaker can indicate an electrical problem that needs professional attention.
Step 2: Unplug Sensitive Electronics
Power can sometimes surge when electricity is restored.
Unplug sensitive equipment such as:
- Computers
- TVs
- Gaming consoles
- Wi-Fi equipment
- Chargers
- Appliances with electronic controls
Ready.gov recommends unplugging appliances, equipment, and electronics during an outage to reduce the risk of damage from electrical surges.
You can leave one light switched on so you know when electricity returns.
Using surge protection can also help protect electronics from voltage fluctuations.
Step 3: Keep the Refrigerator and Freezer Closed
One of the biggest mistakes people make during a power outage is repeatedly opening the refrigerator to check the food.
Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
According to CDC guidance, an unopened refrigerator can keep food safe for up to approximately 4 hours without power. A full freezer can generally stay at a safe temperature for about 48 hours, while a half-full freezer can last about 24 hours.
If the outage lasts four hours and you have ice or a cooler available, move perishable foods into the cooler and keep them at 40°F (4°C) or below.
Step 4: Find Out How Long the Outage May Last
Check your local utility’s outage information if available.
Knowing whether the outage is expected to last 30 minutes, four hours, or an entire day can change how you manage:
- Food
- Batteries
- Heating or cooling
- Internet
- Medical equipment
- Backup power
If the outage is expected to continue for an extended period, start conserving your available battery power and water.
Step 5: Charge or Protect Your Phone
Your phone may become your most important communication device during a long outage.
Use battery power carefully.
Avoid unnecessary:
- Video streaming
- Gaming
- Social media browsing
- High-brightness screen use
- Background applications
If you have a power bank or portable power station, keep it available for essential charging.
If you have no backup battery, consider using your vehicle’s charging system when appropriate. Never run a vehicle inside a garage or other enclosed space because of carbon monoxide risk.
Step 6: Check on Family Members and Neighbors
If it is safe to do so, check on people who may need additional assistance.
This can be particularly important for:
- Older adults
- Young children
- People using medical equipment
- People living alone
- Neighbors affected by extreme heat or cold
During severe weather, a power outage can quickly become a health emergency.
Step 7: Protect Yourself From Extreme Temperatures
A power outage can become dangerous when temperatures are very high or very low.
During Hot Weather
Stay hydrated and reduce physical activity.
If your home becomes dangerously hot, consider moving to an air-conditioned location if one is safely available.
CDC recommends watching for symptoms of heat-related illness during outages.
During Cold Weather
Wear layers and use blankets to conserve body heat.
Do not use a gas stove, oven, charcoal grill, or fuel-burning generator to heat your home.
These devices can produce carbon monoxide or create fire hazards.
Step 8: Never Use a Generator Indoors
If you own a portable fuel-burning generator, never operate it inside your home, basement, garage, or another enclosed area.
Generators produce carbon monoxide, an odorless and colorless gas that can cause serious illness or death.
CDC recommends keeping generators at least 20 feet away from windows, doors, and vents and directing exhaust away from buildings.
This is especially important for apartment renters, where finding a safe outdoor location may be difficult.
A battery-powered portable power station can be a more practical backup option for many apartment households because it does not produce combustion exhaust.
Step 9: Be Careful With Water
A power outage can sometimes affect water systems, particularly if your home depends on an electric well pump or building-wide water pumps.
If water pressure disappears, avoid unnecessarily using water until you understand the situation.
If local authorities issue a water advisory, follow their instructions. CDC recommends using bottled, boiled, or properly treated water when local guidance indicates that tap water may not be safe.
Step 10: Prepare for a Longer Outage
If the outage continues, organize your emergency supplies.
Useful items include:
- Flashlights
- Extra batteries
- Power banks
- Portable power station
- Battery-powered radio
- Drinking water
- Nonperishable food
- Manual can opener
- First-aid supplies
- Blankets
- Refrigerator thermometer
- Battery-powered carbon monoxide detector
CDC’s emergency power checklist also recommends emergency lighting, backup batteries, charging equipment, refrigerator/freezer thermometers, and safe backup power options.
What Should You Do When the Power Comes Back?
Don’t immediately plug everything back in at once.
Wait briefly and check for:
- Burning smells
- Sparks
- Damaged wiring
- Unusual sounds
- Tripped breakers
If electrical equipment has become wet, do not use it until it has been inspected and determined to be safe. CDC advises against turning electrical systems back on when equipment is wet or damaged.
Check your refrigerator and freezer temperature before deciding what food to keep.
Perishable refrigerated food that has been above 40°F for about 4 hours or more should be discarded. Never taste food to determine whether it is safe.
A Simple Power Outage Checklist
When the power goes out, remember this sequence:
1. Stay calm and check for immediate hazards.
2. Get a flashlight.
3. Determine whether the outage affects only your home or the neighborhood.
4. Unplug sensitive electronics.
5. Keep the refrigerator and freezer closed.
6. Check the expected outage duration.
7. Conserve phone and battery power.
8. Protect yourself from extreme heat or cold.
9. Never use a fuel-burning generator indoors.
10. Prepare food, water, and backup power for a longer outage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the first thing to do when the power goes out?
The first thing to do is check for immediate safety hazards, such as fire, smoke, sparks, burning smells, damaged wiring, or fallen power lines. Then get a flashlight and assess the outage.
Should I unplug appliances when the power goes out?
Yes. Unplug sensitive electronics and appliances to help protect them from electrical surges when power is restored.
Should I open my refrigerator during a power outage?
Keep it closed as much as possible. An unopened refrigerator can generally keep food safe for about four hours.
How long does food last without power?
A refrigerator generally keeps food safe for about 4 hours if it remains closed. A full freezer can generally maintain a safe temperature for about 48 hours, while a half-full freezer can last about 24 hours.
Can I use candles during a power outage?
Flashlights and battery-powered lights are safer choices. Candles can create a fire hazard, particularly when used in dark conditions.
Can I run a generator inside my home?
No. Never use a fuel-burning generator indoors. Keep it outdoors and at least 20 feet from windows, doors, and vents.
Final Answer
The first thing to do when the power goes out is check that everyone and everything is safe. Once you confirm there is no immediate danger, get a flashlight, determine the extent of the outage, unplug sensitive electronics, and keep the refrigerator and freezer closed.
From there, focus on the essentials: food safety, communication, temperature control, water, and safe backup power.
A short outage may require little more than patience and a flashlight. But if the outage lasts several hours or occurs during extreme weather, having a power bank, emergency food, water, and a safe backup power source can make a major difference.
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