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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →A planned power shutoff is easier to manage when you prepare before the electricity goes out: confirm utility alerts, charge essential devices, protect food and medication, make a medical and backup-power plan, and choose a safe place to go if your home becomes unsafe. The right plan depends on the expected outage, weather, water service and needs of everyone in your household.
Start with the shutoff notice and your household’s needs
Keep utility updates coming
Check your utility’s outage page and confirm that your phone number and email are current for alerts. PG&E customers can review its outage-preparedness guidance; if you use another utility, follow that provider’s alerts and instructions. Write down the utility’s outage number and other important contacts in case your phone battery runs low.
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Estimate what your household needs
Use the announced timing and your local forecast to decide how long you may need to manage without electricity. Consider whether water service, heating or cooling, mobility, food storage or medical care depends on power. A shutoff notice is not a guarantee of a particular outage duration, so prepare for the period your utility advises and identify how you will respond if conditions change.
Gather essentials before the electricity goes off
Put frequently needed items somewhere easy to reach. Charge phones and power banks while electricity is available, and gather:
#1 Best Overall
- 9500 Running Watts and 12500 Peak Watts (Gasoline); 8500 Running Watts, 11200 Peak Watts (Propane); Remote Start with Included Key Fob, Electric and Recoil Start; Up to 12 Hours of Run Time on a 6. 6 Gallon Fuel Tank with Fuel Gauge
- Features Two GFCI 120V 5–20R 20A Standard Household Receptacle, One Transfer Switch Ready 120V L14-30R 30A, and One RV Ready 120/240V 14–50R 50A; All Outlets Have Rubber Covers for Added Safety
- Powered by a Heavy Duty 457cc Westinghouse 4-Stroke OHV Engine Featuring a Long-Lasting Cast Iron Sleeve with Automatic Low Oil Shutdown and Digital Hour Meter. VFT display gives you real time updates with the voltage output, frequency, and lifetime hours
- Plug-and-Play: Comes with a Remote Start Key Fob, 12V Battery Charger, Oil, an Oil Funnel, a Tool Kit, and a User’s Manual to Get You Started Right Out of the Box (Minimal Assembly Required)
- All Westinghouse Portable Generators are Functionally Tested in the Factory and May Contain Minimum Residual Oil and/or Fuel Odor; EPA Compliant; Backed By 3-Year Limited Service, Labor, and Parts Coverage and Nationwide Customer Service Network
- Flashlights or battery-powered lanterns, plus spare batteries.
- A battery-powered or hand-crank radio for updates.
- Drinking water and shelf-stable food that can be eaten without cooking.
- Medication, first-aid supplies, blankets, and supplies for children or pets.
- Hearing-aid batteries, if needed, and backup smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
- Appliance thermometers for the refrigerator and freezer.
- Surge-protecting power strips for sensitive electronics, used according to their instructions.
The CDC’s power-outage checklist includes emergency lighting, batteries, appliance thermometers and backup alarms. Keep critical contacts and essential instructions on paper as well as on a phone.
Make a specific plan for medical equipment and refrigerated medicine
If anyone relies on powered medical equipment or medication that must be refrigerated, make arrangements before the shutoff rather than assuming a general-purpose battery or generator will work. Ask the person’s clinician and equipment supplier what the device requires, and ask the utility how to receive relevant outage updates or support. The PG&E medical-baseline information is specific to that utility; customers elsewhere should check their own provider’s programs and procedures.
Rank #2
- 13,000 Watts of Reliable Power for Home Power Backup – Keep your home, job site, or RV powered during storms and outages with dual fuel capability and a heavy-duty build.
- Dual Fuel Technology – Gasoline or Propane – Choose between gasoline for maximum power or propane for longer run times and cleaner emissions, ensuring fuel flexibility in any emergency.
- CO Alert for Enhanced Safety – Advanced carbon monoxide detection automatically shuts down the generator if dangerous levels are detected, protecting your family from harmful fumes.
- Push-Button Electric Start & Intuitive Control Panel – Easily start your generator with the push of a button, and quickly switch fuel types using the front-facing fuel selector.
- Transfer Switch-Ready with 50-Amp Outlet – Power your entire home by connecting directly to a transfer switch, thanks to the 50A heavy-duty outlet.
- Confirm the equipment’s power requirements and the backup method approved for it.
- Check backup equipment regularly, and make sure a helper knows how to operate it.
- Write down the clinician, equipment supplier and emergency contacts.
- Identify an accessible place with power and arrange transport in advance.
For medication storage, follow the product label and ask a pharmacist or clinician what to do if the required temperature cannot be maintained. If your plan cannot safely sustain essential care, leave for a suitable powered location before the shutoff.
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Protect refrigerated and frozen food
Before the outage, adjust refrigerator or freezer settings only as recommended by your utility and appliance instructions. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed once the power is off, and use appliance thermometers to monitor temperatures when it is safe to check. PG&E advises discarding food exposed to 40°F or higher for two hours or more; consult current local food-safety advice for your circumstances. Do not rely on appearance or smell to determine whether food stayed at a safe temperature.
Rank #3
- Gasoline: 5300 Running Watts & 6500 Peak Watts; Propane: 4800 Running Watts & 5800 Peak Watts; 4.7 Gallon Fuel Tank with Fuel Gauge; Up to 14.5 Hours of Run Time with 120/240V Volt Selector Switch
- Features One 5–20R 120V 20V Household Duplex Receptacle, One RV-Ready TT-30R 30A Receptacle, and One Transfer Switch Ready L14-30R 30A Receptacle; All Outlets Have Rubber Covers for Added Safety
- Plug-and-Play: Comes with Oil, an Oil Funnel, Propane Hose, Tool Kit, Wheel Kit, and a User’s Manual to Get You Started Right Out of the Box (Minimal Assembly Required)
- Powered by a 274 CC Westinghouse 4-Stroke OHV Engine Featuring a Long-Lasting Cast Iron Sleeve with Automatic Low Oil and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Shutdown
- All Westinghouse Portable Generators are Functionally Tested in the Factory and May Contain Minimum Residual Oil and/or Fuel Odor; EPA Compliant; Backed By 3-Year Limited Service, Labor, and Parts Coverage and Nationwide Customer Service Network
Prepare the house and transport
- Garage access: Learn how to release and open your garage door manually, following the door manufacturer’s instructions.
- Electronics: Turn off or unplug sensitive appliances as your utility advises. You can leave one lamp switched on as a visible indication that power has returned.
- Payments and travel: If local guidance recommends it, fill the car or charge the EV before the outage. Keep some cash available in case electronic payments are unavailable.
- Accessibility: Check that your destination and route are workable for people with mobility, transport or other access needs.
Use generators and other backup power safely
Choose backup equipment based on the actual devices you need to run, their power requirements and the runtime you need. A battery, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or generator should not be assumed to support critical equipment without checking its specifications and, where relevant, getting advice from the device supplier or a qualified professional.
Portable generators
Run a portable generator outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and vents, and follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions. Never use a generator, grill, gas oven or stovetop to heat your home. These devices can produce carbon monoxide, which can build up indoors. See Indiana Department of Homeland Security guidance for generator placement.
Rank #4
- Perfect as a backup power source for larger homes or a dependable source of portable power
- 14,500 peak watts, 11,500 running watts (gasoline); 13,500 peak watts, 10,500 running watts (propane); 12,000 peak watts, 9,500 running watts (natural gas)
- Powered by a heavy duty 550cc 4-Stroke OHV Westinghouse Engine constructed with a durable cast iron sleeve; Runs for up to 19 hours on a 9.5 gal. fuel tank with built-in fuel gauge; up to 7 hours on a 20 lb. propane tank
- Engineered with low THD, so it's safe for sensitive electronics. Power phones, computers, TVs and more. Stay connected with people, news and entertainment during power outages, or on jobsites and campsites. Durable copper windings help your generator produce cleaner power, run cooler and last longer
- All Westinghouse portable generators are gunctionally tested in the factory and may contain minimum residual oil and/or fuel odor; EPA compliant; Backed by 3-Year limited service, labor, and parts coverage and Nationwide Customer Service Network
Never connect a generator to household wiring with an improvised connection. The Government of Canada says connection to home wiring requires an approved transfer panel and switch installed by a qualified electrician; its generator safety guidance explains the requirement. Use equipment only as designed, and do not use a generator indoors or in an attached garage.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsBatteries and UPS equipment
For battery backup or a UPS, check that the device’s output and usable runtime match the equipment you intend to power. Account for how long the outage may last and how the backup will be recharged. For medical devices, confirm compatibility and the backup plan with the clinician or equipment supplier rather than relying on a general estimate.
Best Value
- Powerful Output: 4400 peak watts and 3400 running watts, 2*120V AC ports, 1* 30A RV port, 1*12V DC port, 14 hours runtime at 25% load
- Gas Powered: 2 gallon fuel tank capital
- Features: Inverter technolog, ECO mode, EPA compliment, RV ready, overload protection, low oil shutdown, cold start technology
- Portable Generator: Weight 56lbs, lightweight and easy to move
- Note: All Oxseryn generators are functionally tested in the factory, so there may be a slight smell of gas when you receive it
Choose a safe place to go
Identify a friend’s or relative’s home, community location or other safe place with electricity. This is especially important if extreme heat or cold, loss of water, accessibility barriers or medical requirements could make staying home unsafe. Confirm opening arrangements, accessibility and transport before the shutoff; do not wait until a critical need arises to find a destination.
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