Scenario guide

The power is out until tomorrow.

The first hour, in order. Most of the damage happens in the choices you make right now.

One page. Read it here, save the image to your phone, or print it for the fridge.

The power is out until tomorrow. as one saveable image

The outage map says twelve hours. What you do in the first sixty minutes decides whether this is a dull night or an expensive one. Here is the first hour, in the order it matters.

1
Confirm it is not just you
- Check the breaker panel first
- Look at the neighbors' porch lights
- Open the utility's outage map on your phone
2
Report it, then stop refreshing
- Report through the utility app or number
- Note the estimated restoration time
- Check once an hour, not every minute
3
Keep the fridge and freezer shut
- A closed fridge holds for about four hours
- A full freezer about two days, half full one
- Tape a note on the door so nobody forgets
4
Flashlights, not candles
- One light per room people are using
- Headlamps free up your hands
- Candles start house fires in outages every year
5
Unplug the expensive things
- TVs, computers, the garage door opener
- Power returning can surge
- Leave one lamp on so you know when it is back
6
Dim and ration the phones
- Low power mode, brightness down
- Text instead of calling
- Charge from the car if you have to, engine running outside
7
Generator rule, no exceptions
- Outdoors only, twenty feet from the house
- Never in a garage, even with the door open
- Carbon monoxide has no smell and kills in minutes
8
Check on the people who need it
- Anyone on oxygen or powered medical equipment
- Older neighbors living alone
- Call the utility's medical baseline line if it applies
9
Hot or cold, manage the house
- Heat: close blinds, lowest floor, wet cloths
- Cold: one room, layers, close the doors
- Never run a grill or camp stove indoors
10
Water before you need it
- Fill pitchers and bottles while pressure holds
- A bathtub of water flushes toilets
- Pumped water systems can stop with the power
11
Eat the cold stuff first
- Fridge food first, then freezer, then pantry
- Anything above 40°F for two hours gets tossed
- When in doubt, throw it out
12
Settle in
- Pick one room, gather the lights there
- Board games beat the dark
- Set an alarm to check the status at midnight