When the Power Goes Out

In the first hour

1. Keep the fridge and freezer closed. An unopened refrigerator holds a safe temperature for about four hours; a full freezer for roughly 48 hours. Every time you open it, you spend some of that.
2. Unplug sensitive electronics — computers, TVs, routers. When power returns it can surge or brown out, and that is what damages equipment.
3. Turn off and unplug major appliances so they do not all start at once and trip the circuit when power returns.
4. Use flashlights, not candles. After a storm, gas leaks and structural damage make open flame a genuine risk.
5. Check on neighbours who are elderly, alone, or have medical needs. Do it in person if it is safe to move around.

During the outage

• Do not use a gas stove, oven, grill or camp stove to heat the home. Carbon monoxide and fire risk.
• Do not use a generator indoors or in a garage — see Generator Safety.
• Conserve phone battery: lower brightness, close background apps, and prefer text messages over calls.
• Keep one room as a heat refuge if it is hot: close it off, block sun, and use battery fans.
• Watch for downed lines. Treat every downed wire as live. Stay back, and keep others back, including pets.

When power returns

Check the freezer and fridge temperatures before trusting food — see Is Your Food Still Safe?. Reset clocks and devices, and check that nothing is running hot or smelling burnt.