Power Outage Preparedness
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Prepare Your Home
- Set your fridge and freezer to the coldest setting to keep food cold for up to four hours in the fridge and up to 48 hours in the freezer.
- Turn off or unplug electrical appliances or equipment that could surge when power returns.
- Consider purchasing portable charger banks and stock up on batteries.
- Designate a dedicated outdoor space for generators, grills and stoves, and make sure they are functioning properly. Do not operate these items indoors or in partially enclosed spaces.
- Plan for batteries and other alternative power sources to meet your needs when the power goes out, such as a portable charger or power bank
- Practice opening garage doors without the electronic motor.
Prepare Yourself and Your Community
- Write down emergency numbers and critical contact information.
- Acquire a first aid kit of sufficient size for your household and keep it stocked.
- Keep an emergency supply of prescription and non-prescription medications on hand, and plan for medications, like insulin, that require refrigeration.
- Fully charge personal phones and medical devices, and ensure a backup power source is available for electrically powered medical equipment.
- Check in with your neighbors, especially the elderly and those with disabilities.
- Keep your pets’ needs in mind when obtaining supplies.
If you are energy dependent, please contact your provider for guidance.
Food Safety
Follow this general food safety guidance if you experience a power outage that lasts more than four hours:
- Your refrigerator will keep food safe for up to four hours during a power outage. Keep the door closed as much as possible.
- Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers after 4 hours without power.
- Throw away any food that has been exposed to temperatures 40 degrees or higher for two hours or more, or that has an unusual odor, color or texture.
- If the power is out for more than a day, discard any medication that should be refrigerated, unless the drug’s label says otherwise. Consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately for a new supply.
- Never taste food to determine its safety.
- Visit FoodSafety.gov to download detailed guides on how to handle specific food items after a power outage.
- When in doubt, throw it out!
Retail food establishments, including restaurants, cafeterias, and grocery stores, can find food safety guidance for power outages on our Food Safety page.
Public Safety Power Shutoff
A Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) event is when a power company turns off power in certain areas to prevent wildfires during extreme or critical wildfire risk conditions, such as extreme winds and low humidity. In the event of a extreme wind and critical fire weather, please check with your utility provider for information about potential PSPSs.
