What to Do When the Power Goes Out: First Hour Checklist

The power just went out. Here is a calm, step-by-step checklist for the first hour: what to check, what to unplug, and what to leave alone.

The lights drop, the fridge hum stops, and the house goes quiet. Most outages are short, but the first hour is when you make the choices that protect your family, your food and your electronics. Work through the steps below in order and you will rarely go wrong.

Step 1: Work out whether it is just your home

Look outside. If the streetlights and your neighbours' windows are dark, the outage is wider than your house. If the street is lit, check your electrical panel. A tripped breaker usually sits halfway between ON and OFF. Push it fully to OFF, then back to ON. If it trips again right away, leave it off, because something on that circuit may be faulty. If your whole home is dark but neighbours have power, call a licensed electrician.

• If a breaker will not stay on, do not keep forcing it.
• If you smell burning or see scorch marks at the panel, leave the house and call emergency services.
• Never touch a panel or outlet with wet hands or while standing in water.

Step 2: Report the outage

Do not assume someone else has reported it. Use your utility's outage line, website or app, ideally from a phone on mobile data to save battery. Give your address and any account number, and mention anything unusual such as sparks, a loud bang or a pole that looks damaged. Our alerts and outage reporting guide explains how to find your utility and sign up for text updates.

Step 3: Make the home safe

Grab a flashlight or headlamp rather than a candle. Open flames cause house fires during outages, and a battery light is safer around children and pets. See our headlamp and lantern guide for what to look for.

• Turn off or unplug stoves, space heaters and anything that was running when the power failed, so nothing restarts unattended.
• Leave one lamp switched on so you notice when power returns.
• Never bring a generator, charcoal grill or camp stove indoors or into a garage. These produce carbon monoxide, which is odourless and can kill.
• Stay well away from any downed line outside. Assume it is live and call your utility and emergency services.

Step 4: Protect the fridge and freezer

Keep the doors closed. A closed fridge keeps food cold for about 4 hours, and a full freezer holds for roughly 48 hours (24 hours if half full), according to official food safety guidance. Every door opening shortens that. Group items together in the freezer if there is room, and move to a cooler with ice if the outage looks long. Our fridge and freezer food safety guide covers when to keep or throw out food. When in doubt, throw it out.

Step 5: Unplug what you want to protect

When power returns it can arrive with a surge. Unplug computers, TVs, game consoles and other sensitive electronics. Our guide to protecting appliances in a power outage has the full list.

Step 6: Check on people and settle in

Make sure everyone is accounted for, then check on neighbours who are elderly, ill or alone. Charge your phone from a power bank or car, and lower the screen brightness. Use a battery or hand-crank radio for updates. If it is cold, close off a small room and dress in layers; our guide on staying warm without power has safe options. If it is hot, move to the coolest part of the house and drink water.

When to stop waiting and leave

Consider going to a warming centre, cooling centre, or friend's home if indoor temperatures become unsafe, if you have medical needs you cannot meet, or if officials advise it. Take medications, documents, chargers and pets with you.

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