What to Do During an Outage

What to do during a power outage: If you experience a power outage, take heed of some of these tips and tricks to ensure the life and safety of your home and valuables.

Once you have determined that the outage is outside your home, take these steps to report it.

If you are without power for an extended period of time, turn off large electric appliances and equipment. This practice prevents circuits from being overloaded if refrigerators, water heaters, computers, TVs, and other appliances come on all at once when power is restored.

Keep one lamp on so you will know when the power is restored.

Keep the door to your refrigerator or freezer closed. If your door seals are tight, your food will normally be safe for several hours without power.

Once your power has been restored, remember to plug in or turn on any needed electric appliances or equipment that you shut off during the outage. Also restock your emergency supplies.