The past few years have made one thing clear: Severe weather events can strike just about anywhere. When they do, a resulting power outage can last for days—or even weeks—depending on the severity of the damage it leaves behind. In those situations, it’s worth knowing what to have on hand and what actions to take to get you and your family safely through it.
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During an outage, your cell phone is your lifeline, and you’ll want to keep it charged in case of an emergency.
More on Storm Preparedness
Prep Electronic Devices for a Natural Disaster
Generator Safety Tips that Will Get You Through a Storm
Steps to Keep Your Family Safe in an Emergency
Because you can’t depend on your phone indefinitely, write down phone numbers and addresses you might need, such as a nearby hospital, a school that’s providing supplies, the local library or storm shelter, or other public places that might have power. Those are places where you’ll be able to recharge your electronics and contact loved ones.
Then conserve your phone’s battery life by switching the phone to a power-saving setting, such as airplane or economy mode.
If you do find yourself headed to a local shelter or library, it’s a smart idea to take a power strip, says Maria Rerecich, senior director and head of product testing for CR.
That way, when you do find power, you can charge multiple devices at once—or share the makeshift charging station with others.
Use Gas to Cook Food That Will Spoil
In homes that have lost power but not suffered other damage, you can safely cook on a gas stove. But you’ll probably need to light the burner with a match or lighter because the electronic ignition on a stove won’t work if the power is out. (So be sure to have those on hand.) If you have a gas grill, cooking with it is another option. If you were able to properly store your grill before the storm in a dry space, such as a garage, and notice no water damage to the grill or gas tank, it should be safe to bring it out and use it to grill food.
If you’re concerned about physical damage to the grill or tank that may have occurred during a storm, you should check for gas leaks. Fill a spray bottle with water and a spoonful of dish soap and spray the propane tank, along with its rubber hose, while the tank is in the open position. If you’ve got a gas leak, the spray will produce bubbles near the source of the leak, indicating that it’s not safe to use your grill.
Assuming your gas grill is safe to use, you’ll still need to decide what to cook. CR has a guide to foods you can make or eat that won’t spoil as quickly.
Your unpowered refrigerator can keep food at a safe temperature—below 40° F—for about 4 hours, on average. Cook or use any perishables (raw meat and soft cheeses, especially) within this time period; otherwise, toss these items. Even after that 4-hour window, food can spend an additional 2 hours above 40° F before it becomes unsafe to cook. A full freezer should stay cold for about 48 hours after the power is lost; a half-full freezer should stay cold for about 24 hours. If you’re unsure about the temperature of the food you plan to cook or eat, you can check it with an instant-read thermometer.
Anything that you cook but don’t eat you’ll need to throw out after 2 hours because you’ll have no way to keep it cool enough to prevent it from spoiling. (You can always share with the neighbors.) Good to know: Lots of homeowners insurance policies will cover the replacement cost of spoiled food, if you need another reason to avoid the risk of consuming it.
If your house is flooded, always toss any food that may have come into contact with floodwaters, advises the Department of Agriculture’s guide to food safety during storms and hurricanes.
If You Have a Generator, Use It Safely
Running a generator improperly can kill you in as little as 5 minutes if the concentration of carbon monoxide is high enough. And it happens: As many as 85 people a year die a year from generator-associated carbon monoxide poisoning, according to data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
“Never run your portable generator in the house or in your garage," says Misha Kollontai, a project leader for CR’s generator ratings. Because carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas, "you wouldn’t be able to see or smell a buildup of carbon monoxide until it was too late."
Operate a generator as far from the house as possible—CR recommends at least 20 feet—and direct the exhaust away from doors or windows. If you don’t have a transfer switch installed, you can run an outdoor-rated extension cord of the appropriate gauge from the generator’s outlets to individual appliances, provided the cords are properly rated and you follow certain precautions. The gauge of extension cord your generator requires will be specified in the user manual.
CR’s helps you stay safe in disasters of all kinds.
No Generator? Unplug Your Appliances.
This includes anything with electrical circuitry, from your microwave to your refrigerator to your television.
There isn’t a particular order to follow; you just need to pull the plugs from the outlets to prevent potential electrical damage. Or if you’re comfortable doing so, you can shut off the main circuit breaker.
“When power lines are damaged during storms, there can be a spike or surge in the line,” says John Galeotafiore, associate director of product testing at CR. “Unplugging your appliances can prevent damage to those appliances from a power surge when the utility company restores power.”
If you see street lights or other houses on your block that have successfully turned their lights on, you’ll know the power is back on.
Check on Neighbors
If your family and home are safe and sound, communicate with nearby neighbors and family members to let them know. Check to see if elderly neighbors are able to navigate when the lights aren’t on—or if they might want or need your help. Devise a system to update everyone, if necessary.
If there seems to be no end in sight to the power outage, the Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends seeking out an alternate location with power and heating or cooling—assuming you’re able to safely drive on the roads. Take your go bag or medical go bag and any other supplies you might need. Let your neighbors and family know where you plan to go.
