Power · 6 min read
What to do during a power outage
Protect your household, save battery and avoid common hazards when the power goes out.
PrepKit · Updated on
Start with what you already have
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Look for street lighting and ask a neighbour before touching the electrical panel. If there is burning, smoke, sparks or a damaged cable, stay away and call your utility company or the emergency services.
Light and power without creating danger
Use battery flashlights. Never operate a generator, barbecue or camp stove indoors, in a garage or near openings; carbon monoxide can kill without smell or warning.
- Unplug sensitive equipment if supply is unstable.
- Keep one phone charged and use low-power mode.
- Use a radio for official information if networks fail.
Protect food, water and medicine
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Follow local health guidance on food safety and ask a pharmacist how to protect temperature-sensitive medicine; do not guess whether it remains usable.
Restore cautiously
When power returns, reconnect high-load appliances gradually and check alarms, clocks and medical devices. Replace anything used from the emergency kit.
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