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For a prolonged power outage, prepare several days of essentials, a way to receive alerts and charge phones, and a specific plan for medical equipment, refrigerated medicine, food, water, and temperature extremes. During the outage, keep cold-storage doors shut, use fuel-burning equipment only outdoors, and relocate if your home is no longer safe.
Before an outage: make a household plan
Gather supplies and plan communications
- Gather supplies intended to last several days, and check them regularly and before severe weather. Include drinking water, food that does not require refrigeration, needed medicines, flashlights or lanterns with batteries, and other household essentials.
- Write down a household communication plan and keep a paper copy. Decide how family members will check in and where to meet if normal communications fail.
- Find out whether your phone or landline can work during an outage and how long any backup batteries will last. Charge phones and other electronics when severe weather is forecast.
- Prepare an alternative charging option, such as a charged power bank or suitable vehicle charging. A power bank’s usefulness depends on its capacity and compatibility with your devices; FEMA does not specify a brand, size, or runtime. Run a vehicle only outdoors in a well-ventilated location, never in a garage.
Plan for medical needs and temperature extremes
- List every medical device or other essential household need that depends on electricity. Work with the person’s doctor to plan backup power, what to do if power fails, and when or where to relocate.
- Ask the doctor or pharmacist how to store refrigerated medicines during an outage and what to do if they warm up. Keep medication instructions available and follow the product label and clinician’s advice.
- Identify a safe alternate location if the home becomes too hot or cold, especially for anyone whose health or medical equipment depends on stable conditions.
- If you may use a generator, learn its safe operation, maintenance, fuel storage, and what equipment it can support. Prioritize essential loads rather than assuming a generator can run the whole home. Store fuel safely and obtain it before extreme weather only when it is safe and practical.
Prepare for food, water, and carbon monoxide hazards
- Keep a refrigerator or freezer thermometer available and plan how you will keep food cold, such as having ice available when appropriate.
- Know where local water advisories are announced and keep bottled water available. Follow local instructions if water service is interrupted or its safety is in question.
- Consider battery-backup smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every level of the home and near sleeping areas.
During an outage: protect people first
Follow alerts and check on household members
- Monitor local emergency management and utility information. The FEMA App can provide National Weather Service weather and emergency alerts for up to five locations and help users find nearby shelters.
- Check on family, neighbors, and others who may need help, when it is safe to do so. During extreme heat, reduce exertion, drink water, seek shade, and use a cooling location if needed. During cold weather, consider spending the coldest part of the day somewhere heated.
- If a medical device stops working or medicine is affected, follow your prepared plan and contact the clinician or pharmacist for advice specific to the device or medicine.
Use safe lighting and fuel-burning equipment
- Use battery-powered flashlights or lanterns. Do not use candles or fuel-burning appliances to heat the home.
- Never use a generator, camp stove, or charcoal grill indoors. FEMA says these must be operated outdoors at least 20 feet from building openings such as windows, doors, and garages.
- Do not use a gas stove, oven, grill, or clothes dryer to heat your home. Never run a vehicle in a garage, even with the garage door open.
Manage food and water safely
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. FEMA’s 2025 guidance says a refrigerator keeps food cold for about 4 hours and a full freezer stays at a safe temperature for about 48 hours.
- Discard refrigerated food that has been exposed to 40°F or higher for more than 4 hours, following FEMA’s 2025 guidance. Do not use smell or appearance to decide whether food is safe; when in doubt, throw it out.
- Follow water advisories and use boiled or bottled water when local authorities advise it.
When to relocate or return home
Know when the home is no longer safe
Consider an alternate location, shelter, or evacuation if the home becomes unsafe because of extreme heat or cold, loss of medically essential power, or another hazard. Follow local officials’ instructions and the household’s medical and safety plans.
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Check conditions before resuming normal routines
- On return, check local utility and water advisories before using affected services. Inspect conditions carefully and avoid downed power lines; report them to the utility or emergency service.
- Handle refrigerated medicines according to their labels and advice from a clinician or pharmacist. FEMA advises replacing refrigerated medicines if power has been out for a day or more unless the label says otherwise; ask a doctor or pharmacist what to do with medicine that has been at room temperature.
- Discard food that meets FEMA’s time-and-temperature threshold. Restock and inspect emergency supplies after the event.
How to stay safe from a power outage
FEMA’s 2025 power-outage information sheet provides U.S.-oriented guidance. Local emergency managers, utilities, and health authorities may issue instructions for your area; follow those, along with equipment manuals and individualized medical advice.
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