What to do when the power goes out
FEMA's Ready.gov says to keep the fridge and freezer closed, unplug appliances and electronics to protect them from surges, and use flashlights instead of candles. The CDC says never use a generator, grill, camp stove or gas oven inside your home, because the carbon monoxide they give off can kill.
More than 400 Americans die from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning not linked to fires every year, and the CDC lists portable generators and charcoal grills among the sources.
- The first few minutes
- Carbon monoxide warning
- Food, water and medicine
- If the house gets too hot or too cold
- Get ready for the next one
- Gear
The first few minutes
- Use a flashlight, not candles. Battery lights are safer, says Ready.gov. If you do light candles, never leave them burning in an empty room (CDC).
- Unplug appliances and electronics. This protects them from the surge when power comes back. Use surge protectors (Ready.gov).
- Shut the fridge and freezer and write down the time. Food stays safe for about 4 hours in a closed fridge and 48 hours in a full freezer (CDC). See food safety in a power outage.
- Stay away from fallen power lines. Never touch one, and never drive through standing water with a downed line in it (CDC).
- Save your phone battery. Ready.gov notes that landlines can fail if the lines are damaged, so your cell phone may be your only link.
- Check on family and neighbors if it is safe to do so (Ready.gov). Older adults are more at risk in the cold (CDC).
Carbon monoxide warning
Most deaths in power outages come from people trying to stay warm, cook or get power back. Every one of these risks is avoidable.
The CDC says more than 400 Americans die every year from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning not linked to fires, more than 100,000 go to the emergency room, and more than 14,000 end up in the hospital. You cannot see or smell the gas. People who are asleep or drunk can die before they ever feel sick.
- Never run a generator, grill, camp stove or charcoal inside your home, basement or garage, even with the doors and windows open (CDC).
- Run generators outside, more than 20 feet from windows, doors and vents (CDC). Not on a porch or in a carport (CPSC).
- Never heat your home with a gas oven (CDC).
- Have a battery-powered or battery backup carbon monoxide alarm on every level and outside sleeping areas, and test it monthly (CPSC).
- Headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain or confusion can mean carbon monoxide poisoning (CDC). If the alarm sounds or anyone feels this way, get everyone outside, then call 911 or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
Read the full rules on portable generator safety.
Food, water and medicine
- Do not store food outside or in snow (Ready.gov).
- Throw out refrigerated food that has been above 40°F for more than 4 hours, or that smells, looks or feels wrong. When in doubt, throw it out (Ready.gov).
- Follow any boil water advisory. Use bottled, boiled or treated water for drinking, cooking and brushing teeth (CDC). See how to make water safe to drink.
- Medicines that need the fridge should be replaced if the power was out for a day or more, unless the label says otherwise (CDC). If you rely on one, call your doctor or pharmacist (Ready.gov).
If the house gets too hot or too cold
- Cold: the CDC says a body temperature below 95°F is a medical emergency. Ready.gov suggests spending the coldest hours somewhere with heat. See how to stay warm without power.
- Heat: go to an air-conditioned shelter, mall or library, or take cool showers or baths (CDC). See how to stay cool without power.
- If it is too hot or too cold to stay, the CDC says go to friends or a community shelter.
Get ready for the next one
- Battery backup smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every level and near sleeping areas
- Talk to your doctor about powering medical devices and storing medicines
- Several days of supplies: water, food, flashlights, batteries
- A way to charge phones without the grid (power bank or power station)
- A full gas tank before forecast extreme weather
- Thermometers in the fridge and freezer, and ice ready to go
- A paper copy of your family contact plan
- A generator plan that keeps it outside, plus fuel stored safely
List from FEMA's Ready.gov power outage sheet. See what size generator you need and how to store gasoline.
Common mistakes
- Heating the house with a gas oven or stove. The CDC says never do this.
- Running the generator in the garage with the door open. Open doors do not make it safe.
- Lighting candles all over the house instead of using flashlights.
- Opening the fridge every hour to check on it.
- Leaving electronics plugged in for the surge when the power comes back.
- Going near a fallen power line, or driving through water that has one in it.
Gear for this
Links go to Amazon search results so you can compare current prices and reviews. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Battery-powered carbon monoxide alarm
The CPSC says to have battery-operated or battery backup CO alarms on each level and outside sleeping areas.
LED lanterns and flashlights
Ready.gov says use battery lights instead of candles.
Power bank or portable power station
Keeps phones working when landlines and chargers do not.
Fridge and freezer thermometers
The only way to know if food stayed at 40°F or below.
Questions people ask
What should you not do in a power outage?
Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or gas oven inside your home or garage. The CDC says these give off carbon monoxide that can kill. Also do not open the fridge, light candles unattended or go near fallen power lines.
How long is food safe in the fridge when the power goes out?
About 4 hours with the door kept shut. A full freezer keeps food safe for about 48 hours, or 24 hours if half full, according to the CDC.
Should I unplug things during a power outage?
Yes. Ready.gov says unplug appliances and electronics so a power surge does not damage them when the power comes back.
Sources
- FEMA Ready.gov: Be Prepared for a Power Outage (PDF)
- CDC: What to Do to Protect Yourself During a Power Outage
- CDC: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Basics
- CPSC: Winter storm carbon monoxide and fire safety tips (2026)
- CDC: During and After a Winter Storm
Related entries
- P-01Portable generator safety: where to put it and how not to dieOutside only, more than 20 feet from the house, never in the garage.
- F-01How long food lasts in the fridge and freezer when the power goes out4 hours in the fridge. 48 hours in a full freezer. What to keep and what to throw out.
- P-03How to stay warm without powerClose off rooms, block drafts, layer up, and never heat with a gas oven or grill.
- P-04How to stay cool without power in a heat waveShade the windows, cool your body, know the 90°F fan rule, and spot heat stroke fast.
- P-06What size generator do I need? (simple worked example)Add up the running watts, add the biggest starting watts, done. A worked example with a fridge, sump pump and furnace fan.
General safety information only, not medical or professional advice. Rules can change, so check the linked sources and follow your local officials. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.