Prepare for power outages before storm season by checking lights, batteries, chargers, appliance surge risk, food safety plans, and any medical power needs. The hard part during an outage should not be finding the flashlight.
Quick checklist
- Put flashlights where people can find them.
- Check batteries and power banks.
- Know what devices rely on electricity.
- Plan for refrigerated medicines if needed.
- Keep refrigerator and freezer thermometers in place.
- Know how you will get local alerts.
- Review generator safety if you own one.
Put flashlights where people can find them
Keep at least one flashlight per person in known, reachable spots — a bedside drawer, the kitchen, a basement landing. Headlamps work even better since they leave your hands free for stairs or whatever else. Candles are a fire risk during outages; skip them if you can.
Check batteries and power banks
Replace AA, AAA, and 9-volt batteries every couple of years even if unused. Charge portable power banks every few months — lithium packs lose capacity slowly when they sit. Test the flashlights and lanterns you've stashed at the same time.
Know what devices rely on electricity
Walk through the home and make a quick mental list: sump pump, well pump, garage door opener, gate, security system, internet, refrigerator, freezer, medical equipment, heating system blower, hot water (if gas-fired with electric ignition). Knowing what stops working in an outage helps you prep the right backup — manual release for the garage, water stored ahead of time, a battery-powered radio.
Plan for refrigerated medicines
If anyone in the home depends on refrigerated medication, plan a cooler with ice packs, a backup outlet (a neighbor with power, a pharmacy), or a small medical-grade fridge backup. Talk to your pharmacist before the outage about how long your specific medications stay safe.
Keep refrigerator and freezer thermometers in place
A refrigerator thermometer makes decisions easier after the power comes back. If you don't know the temperature history, you are guessing. Keep the doors closed as much as possible during an outage. The FDA says food in a closed fridge is generally safe for about 4 hours, and a full freezer for about 48 hours.
Know how you will get local alerts
Phone networks can stay up during outages, but they can also fail. Sign up for local alert systems (city, county, or utility text alerts) and have a backup — a NOAA weather radio, a battery-powered radio, or a neighbor who texts you. Power outage maps from your utility are useful for tracking restoration estimates.
Review generator safety
Ready.gov is clear: never run a generator indoors, in a garage, or near windows or vents. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and can kill within minutes in an enclosed space. Always run generators outside, well away from the house, with the exhaust pointed away. Don't backfeed a generator into household wiring without a proper transfer switch — it can electrocute utility workers.
Good maintenance rhythm
- Check outage supplies before storm season, before winter weather, and before long trips.
- Recharge power banks every few months if they sit unused.