Power outage
Educational guidance, not emergency services. In danger, leave and call 911.
Determine whether the outage is limited to your home or affects the area.
Protect people first
Never use a generator, grill, or fuel-burning device indoors or near doors, windows, or vents. Stay away from downed lines and report them to emergency services or the utility.
First steps
- Check safely: Look outside for neighborhood lights and check your utility’s outage information. Use flashlights instead of candles.
- Protect equipment: Unplug sensitive electronics. Leave one light on so you know when service returns.
- Protect food and medicine: Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Follow health guidance for temperature-sensitive medication.
- Use the panel carefully: If only your home is affected and the area is dry, check for a clearly tripped breaker. Call an electrician for heat, odor, buzzing, water, or repeated trips.
After the immediate problem
- Confirm appliances restarted safely
- Reset clocks and alarms
- Restock batteries and recharge power banks