What to Do During a Power Outage

Practical Safety Steps for Protecting Your Home, Family, Appliances, and Backup Power Equipment

A power outage can happen with little warning. Hurricanes, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, ice, fallen trees, equipment failures, vehicle accidents, and utility damage can interrupt electrical service for a few minutes or several days. Knowing what to do during a power outage helps reduce safety risks, prevent avoidable property damage, protect refrigerated food, and make the outage easier to manage until utility power returns.

The first priorities are confirming the extent of the outage, checking for immediate hazards, protecting vulnerable household members, and using generators or alternative power sources safely. Avoid rushing outside during severe weather or attempting electrical repairs yourself. A calm, organized response is usually safer and more effective than reacting to every problem at once.

The following steps explain what to do immediately after the power goes out, how to manage an extended outage, when to use a generator, and what to check after utility service has been restored.

Confirm Whether the Outage Is Limited to Your Property

Look outside to see whether nearby homes, streetlights, or businesses have also lost power. Check your electric utility's outage map or notification system if mobile service remains available.

If neighboring properties still have electricity, the problem may involve your electrical panel, service connection, or equipment inside the home. Check the main breaker panel for a tripped breaker, but do not repeatedly reset a breaker that trips again. A breaker that will not remain on may indicate an electrical fault that requires professional attention.

Contact the utility company when the outage appears to involve the electrical service entering the property. Contact a qualified electrician when the issue appears limited to your home's wiring, panel, breakers, or permanently installed equipment.

Check for Immediate Safety Hazards

Before focusing on comfort or convenience, determine whether the outage has created an immediate danger. Remain indoors during severe weather unless the building itself is unsafe.

Watch for hazards such as:

Downed or damaged power lines
Sparking transformers or electrical equipment
Water entering electrical panels or outlets
Smoke, burning odors, or unusual heat
Carbon monoxide alarms
Floodwater approaching electrical equipment
Damaged trees resting on utility lines

Always assume that a fallen power line is energized. Stay far away, keep other people and pets clear, and report it to the utility company or emergency services. Never touch a downed line, anything resting against it, or standing water near it.

If you smell burning, see smoke, or believe an electrical fire may be developing, leave the property and contact emergency services from a safe location.

Use Flashlights Instead of Candles

Use flashlights, battery-powered lanterns, or rechargeable emergency lights whenever possible. Candles can create a fire hazard, especially around children, pets, curtains, bedding, and combustible materials.

Keep flashlights in several easy-to-reach areas of the home rather than storing every emergency supply in one location. Check batteries before storm season and recharge portable power banks whenever severe weather is expected.

A practical outage kit may include:

LED flashlights
Battery-powered lanterns
Extra batteries
Phone charging banks
Battery-powered radio
First-aid supplies
Bottled water
Nonperishable food
Manual can opener
Necessary medications

Keep Refrigerator and Freezer Doors Closed

Avoid opening refrigerators and freezers more than necessary. Every time a door opens, cold air escapes and food warms faster.

A closed refrigerator can generally preserve safe temperatures for a limited period, while a full freezer usually remains cold longer than a partially filled one. Actual holding time depends on the appliance, room temperature, starting temperature, and how frequently the doors are opened.

Group refrigerated items together to help them retain cold air. Use appliance thermometers when available, and discard food that has reached unsafe temperatures or developed an unusual odor, color, or texture. When in doubt, do not taste food to determine whether it is safe.

A standby generator can help maintain refrigeration automatically during an outage. Homeowners comparing permanent backup power options can review our Whole House Generators and What Size Generator Do I Need? guides.

Unplug Sensitive Electronics and Major Appliances

Power can return with voltage fluctuations or brief surges. Unplug sensitive electronics and turn off major appliances to reduce the risk of damage and prevent the electrical system from being overloaded when service is restored.

Consider disconnecting or switching off:

Televisions
Desktop computers
Gaming systems
Home theater equipment
Window air conditioners
Electric heaters
Washers and dryers
Electric ranges
Other high-demand appliances

Leave one lamp or light switched on so you know when utility power returns. After service has stabilized, reconnect appliances gradually rather than turning everything on at once.

Protect Household Members with Medical or Mobility Needs

Some households depend on electrically powered medical equipment, refrigerated medications, powered mobility devices, or temperature-controlled indoor conditions. These needs should be addressed early rather than waiting for the outage to become prolonged.

Follow the backup instructions provided by the equipment manufacturer or medical provider. Use approved battery backups when available, and relocate to a safe powered location when necessary.

Families with critical electrical needs should maintain a written outage plan that identifies backup equipment, emergency contacts, transportation options, medication requirements, and nearby locations with dependable power.

Use a Generator Safely

Portable generators can provide useful temporary power, but improper operation can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, electrocution, fire, or damage to the home's electrical system.

Never operate a portable generator inside a home, garage, basement, enclosed porch, shed, or other partially enclosed area. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless and can accumulate quickly, even when doors or windows are open.

Place portable generators outdoors and well away from doors, windows, vents, and occupied areas. Follow the manufacturer's placement instructions and keep the equipment protected from direct rain without restricting ventilation.

Additional safety rules include:

Never connect a portable generator directly to a wall outlet
Use properly rated outdoor extension cords
Keep cords away from standing water
Allow the generator to cool before refueling
Store fuel in approved containers
Do not exceed the generator's rated capacity
Install working carbon monoxide detectors

Connecting a portable generator to household wiring requires approved transfer equipment installed by a qualified professional. Improper connections can backfeed electricity into utility lines and create a potentially fatal hazard for lineworkers and nearby properties.

For a detailed comparison of backup power options, read our Standby Generator vs. Portable Generator guide.

Verify That a Standby Generator Is Operating Normally

A permanently installed standby generator should detect the outage, start automatically, and transfer the selected electrical loads to generator power. Allow the system to complete its normal startup sequence.

After power transfers, verify that the expected circuits are operating. Listen for alarms, unusual noises, repeated starting attempts, or irregular engine operation. Check the controller display from a safe position if conditions allow.

Do not remove panels, bypass alarms, or attempt internal repairs while the generator is operating. If the unit fails to start, shuts down, displays a fault, or produces unusual sounds or odors, contact a qualified generator technician.

Our Generator Won't Start guide explains several common causes of startup failure and the basic checks homeowners can safely perform.

Manage Electrical Loads During an Extended Outage

Even a whole-home standby system has a defined electrical capacity. Avoid turning on several high-demand appliances at the same time unless the system was designed to support those loads together.

Large electrical loads may include:

Central air-conditioning systems
Electric water heaters
Electric ranges and ovens
Clothes dryers
Pool equipment
Well pumps
Electric vehicle chargers

Use major appliances strategically during a prolonged outage. For example, avoid operating an electric water heater, oven, clothes dryer, and multiple HVAC systems simultaneously unless the generator and transfer equipment were specifically designed for that demand.

Load-management equipment may automatically control certain appliances to prevent overloading. Professional generator sizing and installation help ensure the system supports the household's actual priorities during an outage.

Monitor Fuel During Long Outages

Fuel planning becomes critical when an outage continues beyond the first several hours. Portable gasoline generators require regular refueling, while propane standby systems depend on the amount stored in the tank. Natural gas systems normally rely on continued utility gas service.

Never allow fuel planning to become an emergency. Monitor propane levels, gasoline supplies, generator run time, and local access conditions. Follow all fuel-storage requirements, and never store gasoline inside occupied living areas.

Reduce unnecessary electrical loads to conserve fuel. During an extended outage, prioritize refrigeration, essential lighting, communications, medical equipment, water systems, and safe indoor temperatures.

Stay Informed Without Draining Phone Batteries

Use text alerts, utility updates, local weather notifications, and a battery-powered radio to track changing conditions. Reduce screen brightness, close unused applications, and place phones in low-power mode.

Avoid using a vehicle inside a garage to charge phones or other devices. Running vehicles produce carbon monoxide, even when the garage door is open.

Reserve available battery power for emergency communication, utility updates, weather information, and contact with family members.

Know When to Leave the Property

A generator does not eliminate every storm-related risk. Leave the property when local authorities issue evacuation orders or when conditions become unsafe due to flooding, fire, structural damage, extreme temperatures, medical needs, or carbon monoxide concerns.

Do not remain in a dangerous location simply because backup power is available. Generators support essential electrical needs; they do not protect against storm surge, rising water, damaged structures, or blocked emergency access.

What to Do When Utility Power Returns

When electricity returns, allow the standby generator and automatic transfer switch to complete their normal transfer and cooldown process. Do not manually interrupt the sequence unless instructed by a qualified technician.

Reconnect unplugged appliances gradually. Check clocks, security systems, HVAC controls, internet equipment, refrigerators, freezers, well systems, and other critical devices for proper operation.

Inspect the property for storm damage before assuming everything is normal. Look for water intrusion, damaged service equipment, unusual odors, tripped breakers, or appliances that fail to restart.

If the generator operated for an extended period, check the manufacturer's maintenance schedule. Long run times may require an oil-level inspection, oil change, filter service, or professional maintenance sooner than the normal annual interval.

Review our Generator Maintenance Checklist for routine inspection and service considerations.

Prepare Before the Next Outage

Once power is restored, replace used supplies and correct any weaknesses you discovered. Recharge battery banks, replace flashlight batteries, replenish fuel safely, update emergency contacts, and schedule repairs or maintenance.

Homeowners who experienced a difficult outage may want to evaluate a permanent backup power solution. A professionally installed standby generator can restore power automatically and support essential circuits or the entire home, depending on system design.

Helpful planning resources include:

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I turn off the main breaker during a power outage?
Most homeowners do not need to turn off the main breaker during a routine utility outage. Turn off or unplug major appliances and sensitive electronics instead. Properties with generators should use properly installed transfer equipment and follow the system manufacturer's instructions.

How can I tell whether the outage is only affecting my house?
Check nearby homes and streetlights, review the utility outage map, and inspect the electrical panel for a tripped breaker. If neighboring properties have power and your main breaker appears normal, contact the utility company or a qualified electrician.

Can I use a gas stove to heat my home?
No. Ovens and stovetops are not safe space heaters and can create fire, burn, and carbon monoxide hazards.

Where should I place a portable generator?
Operate it outdoors, well away from doors, windows, vents, and occupied areas. Follow the manufacturer's required clearances and never operate it in a garage, basement, shed, or enclosed porch.

Why should I unplug electronics?
Disconnecting sensitive electronics helps protect them from voltage fluctuations or surges when utility service returns.

What should I do if my standby generator does not start?
Check the controller for an alert, verify that the unit is in automatic mode, and inspect the fuel supply only when it is safe to do so. Do not attempt internal repairs while the system is energized. Contact a generator technician when the cause is not immediately apparent.

How can I conserve generator fuel?
Power only necessary loads, avoid operating multiple high-demand appliances together, and reduce unnecessary heating, cooling, lighting, and appliance use.

Should my generator be serviced after a long outage?
Possibly. Extended operation may accelerate oil-change or inspection intervals. Review the manufacturer's maintenance schedule and arrange professional service when the generator has accumulated significant run time.

Reliable Backup Power Starts Before the Lights Go Out

Knowing what to do during a power outage can help protect your family, food, electronics, appliances, and electrical equipment. Focus first on immediate hazards, use lighting and generators safely, preserve refrigerated food, manage electrical loads, and remain informed about changing weather and utility conditions.

Long-term preparation is equally important. Emergency supplies, working carbon monoxide detectors, routine generator maintenance, and a clearly understood household plan can make the next outage safer and less disruptive.

A-Lectric Company and Contracting provides standby generator installation, maintenance, and repair throughout Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas. Our team can evaluate your backup power needs and help prepare your home or business for future storm outages.

Call (855) 469-3883 to schedule your free generator estimate.
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