Outside only
Generators, camp stoves and charcoal grills always run outdoors. Never in the house or the garage, even with the doors and windows open.
Power, heat and light
What to do in a power outage
Switch to flashlights, keep the fridge and freezer shut, unplug electronics, and run anything that burns fuel outside. Closed, a fridge keeps food cold for about 4 hours and a full freezer for about 48.
The first 15 minutes
Do these in order, then settle in.
- Get light. Hand out flashlights, one per person if you have them.
- Close the fridge and freezer and agree that nobody opens them without a reason.
- Unplug appliances and electronics to protect them from a surge when power comes back.
- Check on anyone who relies on power: a medical device, medicine that needs to stay cold.
- Turn on a battery or hand-crank radio for updates from local officials.
- Note the time. The food safety clock starts now.
How long food stays safe
These times assume the doors stay closed.
| Appliance | Stays cold for | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | About 4 hours | Throw out perishable food (meat, fish, cut fruits and vegetables, eggs, milk and leftovers) after 4 hours without power or a cold source. |
| Full freezer | About 48 hours | Food that still has ice crystals or is at 40°F or below can be refrozen or cooked. |
| Half-full freezer | About 24 hours | Same check: ice crystals or 40°F or below. |
Times from Ready.gov and the CDC. The fridge should sit at 40°F or below. An appliance thermometer in each one tells you for sure.
Medicines and medical devices
This part is worth planning before the lights go out.
Ready.gov asks you to talk to your medical provider about a power outage plan for any device that runs on electricity, and to find out how long your medicines can be kept at higher temperatures.
Have a backup plan for keeping medicines cold. If the power is out for more than a day, Ready.gov says to throw away any medicine that should be refrigerated.
Carbon monoxide: keep fuel outside
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas that can kill people and pets. Generators, grills and camp stoves all give it off.
20 feet away
Keep a generator at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages, and more than 20 feet from vents. Keep it dry, and let it cool before refuelling.
No gas oven for heat
Don't use a gas stove or oven to heat your home. Don't run a car in an attached garage, even with the door open.
Detectors with battery backup
Put them near every sleeping area and on every level. Check the batteries when the clocks change in spring and fall, and replace detectors every 5 years or as the maker says.
Know the symptoms
The CDC lists headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion, often described as flu-like. CO poisoning can cause sudden illness and death, so if someone has these signs while fuel-burning equipment is running, call 911.
For running a generator properly, read generator safety and carbon monoxide.
If it's very hot or very cold
- If the heat or cold is extreme, go to a community location that has power.
- Check with local officials for heating and cooling centres open near you.
- Have working carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup on every level before you run any backup heat. For more, see staying warm in a winter outage.
When the power comes back
Power can return with surges or spikes, so bring things back slowly.
01Electrics
- Keep equipment off or unplugged as the power returns, since it can come back with momentary surges or spikes.
- Once it's steady, plug things back in one by one.
Source: Ready.gov: Power Outages
02Food
- Check the appliance thermometers before you eat anything.
- Throw out perishable food that sat at 40°F or above for two hours or more.
- Refreeze or cook thawed food that still has ice crystals or is at 40°F or below.
03Restock
- Replace batteries you used.
- Write down what you ran short of and add it to your 72-hour kit.
Before the next one
A walk through the house now makes the next outage simpler.
Walk through the house and list everything you rely on that needs electricity. Ready.gov suggests starting there, then planning batteries or backup power, such as a portable charger or power bank, for the items that matter most.
Make sure every person has a flashlight, put carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup in central spots, and keep a thermometer in the fridge and the freezer. The 72-hour checklist tracks the rest.
Questions people ask
How long is food good in the fridge without power?
About 4 hours with the door closed. After that, throw out perishables such as meat, fish, eggs, milk and leftovers.
How long does a freezer stay cold without power?
About 48 hours when full and about 24 hours when half full, as long as you keep it shut.
Should I unplug things during a power outage?
Yes. Ready.gov says to disconnect appliances and electronics so a surge on reconnection doesn't damage them.
Can I use my gas stove to heat the house?
No. Ready.gov warns against heating a home with a gas stove or oven because of carbon monoxide.
How far should a generator be from the house?
At least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages, and always outdoors.
Read next
Sources
- Ready.gov: Power Outages
- CDC: Keep Food Safe After an Emergency
- CDC: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Basics
- Ready.gov: Winter Weather Detectors on every level, generators 20 feet away.
- EPA: Carbon Monoxide's Impact on Indoor Air Quality