Power outage guides
Practical, sourced answers to the questions every outage raises — written from USDA, FDA, CPSC, Ready.gov, Red Cross, and HHS guidance, reviewed 2026-07-16. For live conditions, use the outage map.
How do I report a power outage?
How to report a power outage to your utility: what to check first, the fastest reporting routes, what details help, when it's a 911 call instead, and what happens after.
How our independent restoration forecast works
How the restoration forecast works — recovery pace, whether the outage is still growing, weather, and local history — what the range means, and how every forecast is graded.
Is the food in my fridge still safe? The power-outage rules
USDA/FDA food-safety rules for power outages: the 4-hour refrigerator window, the 24–48 hour freezer window, the 40°F rule, and what to throw out when power returns.
Running a generator safely during an outage
CPSC generator-safety rules for outages: never run one indoors or in a garage, keep it 20+ feet from the house, carbon-monoxide facts, dry operation, and safe refueling.
Why is my power out right now?
The common causes of power outages — weather, equipment, animals, planned work, rolling blackouts — how to check if it's just you, and when to call 911.
How utilities decide who gets power back first
The restoration order utilities follow after an outage — transmission, substations, critical facilities, biggest circuits, then individual services — and why estimates move.
Preparing for a power outage (before one starts)
A practical power-outage preparedness checklist from Ready.gov and Red Cross guidance: water, light, power banks, food plan, medication cold chain, and alerts.
If someone in your home depends on powered medical equipment
Backup planning for electricity-dependent medical equipment: utility registries, the HHS emPOWER program, battery backup, and when to call 911. Not medical advice.
How to stay warm when the power's out in winter
Staying warm safely in a winter power outage: heating one room, safe vs unsafe heat sources, the carbon-monoxide rule, and hypothermia signs — per Red Cross and CDC.
How to stay cool when the power's out in a heat wave
Staying safe in a summer power outage without AC: heat exhaustion vs heat stroke, cooling centers, hydration, and who's most at risk — per CDC and Red Cross.
Is my water safe during a power outage?
Water safety during a power outage: why well pumps stop, what a boil-water advisory means, how to boil or disinfect water correctly, and how much to store — per CDC and EPA.
How to stay connected when the power's out
Keep your phone and internet working in a power outage: saving battery, charging without wall power, texts over calls, and 911 when service is down — per FCC.
The power's back — now what?
What to do when the power comes back: avoid the restoration surge, turn appliances on safely, check your food, and spot electrical damage — per ESFI and USDA.
Choosing backup power for outages
Home backup power compared: portable power stations, portable and standby generators, and home batteries — runtime, cost, and safety. Independent, no purchase advice.
See also: research reports · how our estimates are graded · data sources.