Hour zero

First 15 minutes of an outage

Six moves in a quarter of an hour: everyone has light, the outage is reported, the electronics are safe and the cold stays in.

Time15 min

LevelEasy

Steps6

Official sources2

Why it matters

What you do right after the lights go out decides whether the food stays cold, the electronics survive the surge, and anyone gets hurt in the dark.

What you need

Gather these before you start.

Flashlight or headlamp
Phone

Step by step

Power outage steps diagram showing the first 15 minutes: light, check the street, report it, unplug, keep the fridge shut and think of people

11 of 6

Light first

Reach for the flashlight you keep by the bed or the door, and leave candles in the drawer. Hand a light to each person so nobody walks around in the dark.

22 of 6

Just your house, or the street?

Look out the window at the neighbors and the street lights. If they still have power, check your breaker panel for a tripped switch before you call anyone.

33 of 6

Report it

Call your electricity supplier or use its outage map and report the outage, even if you think others have. Write down the time it started, because it matters for the food in the fridge.

44 of 6

Unplug and switch off

Unplug computers, TVs and other electronics, and switch off appliances that were running. Leave one lamp switched on so you know the moment power comes back.

55 of 6

Close the cold

Keep the fridge and freezer doors shut from now on. A closed fridge keeps food safe for about 4 hours and a full freezer for about 48 hours.

66 of 6

Think about people

If anyone at home uses powered medical equipment or medicine that must stay cold, start that plan now. Text or knock on a neighbor who lives alone.

The numbers

What	Time
Fridge, door kept shut	about 4 hours
Full freezer	about 48 hours
Food at 40°F (4°C) or higher	throw out after 2 hours
Time for these steps	15 minutes
Flashlight battery check	2 times a year

Ready.gov, Power outages

Stay safe

Stay well away from fallen power lines and report them to the electricity supplier or emergency services.
Do not use a gas stove or oven to heat the home.
If someone depends on powered medical equipment and has no backup, call emergency services.

When you're done

Result	Within a quarter of an hour, the outage is reported, the electronics are safe, the cold is sealed in and everyone has light.
Keep it ready	Keep a working flashlight in the same place in each bedroom and check its batteries twice a year.

Questions people ask

How long is food good in the fridge without power?

About 4 hours if the door stays shut, and a full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours. Throw out food that has sat at 40°F or higher for 2 hours or more.

What should you do first when the power goes out?

Grab a flashlight, then look at the neighbors and the street lights. If they still have power, check your breaker panel for a tripped switch before you call your electricity supplier.

Should you unplug things during a power outage?

Yes. Unplug computers, TVs and other electronics, because power can come back with surges that damage them. Leave one lamp on so you know the moment it returns.