The short answer
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed, run generators outdoors only, never backfeed the house, keep CO alarms working, and turn off or unplug sensitive equipment before power returns.
During
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. U.S. food-safety guidance says an unopened refrigerator keeps food cold for about four hours and a full freezer about 48 hours (24 if half full); discard perishable food that has warmed beyond safe limits.
- Use flashlights, not candles.
- Run generators outdoors, away from the house; use battery-powered CO alarms.
- Power only what you need; check the load calculator before adding appliances to a battery or generator.
- Stay away from downed power lines and report them.
SafetyNever plug a generator into a wall outlet to power the house, and never run it in a garage, basement or enclosed porch.
After power returns
- Wait a few minutes before turning on large appliances so the grid stabilizes; turn them on one at a time.
- If equipment got wet or the house was flooded, do not turn the power back on until a licensed electrician has checked it.
- Refuel generators only when cool; replace used fuel and test run the generator when the emergency is over.
Fill the gaps next time
Total the load you wished you could run and use the calculator to size equipment before the next event.
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