What to do when the power goes out
Keep the fridge and freezer shut. Food in the fridge is safe for about 4 hours; a full freezer holds for 48 hours, a half-full one for 24. Unplug electronics, light with LEDs, and run a generator outside only, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and vents. Never heat your home with a grill, an oven or a generator indoors.
What to do right now
- Unplug appliances and electronics so the surge can't damage them.
- Keep the fridge and freezer shut. Fridge: 4 hours, then throw out meat, fish, eggs, milk, leftovers. Freezer: 48 hours full, 24 half full.
- Light with LEDs first. Flame is a backup, never where people sleep.
- Generator outside only, 20 feet from windows, doors and vents. Never plug it into a wall outlet.
- Text instead of calling. Dim the screen.
Remember: Never heat with a grill, an oven or a generator indoors.
Food without power (doors kept shut)
| Fridge | 4 hours. Then throw out meat, fish, eggs, milk and leftovers. |
|---|---|
| Full freezer | 48 hours |
| Half-full freezer | 24 hours |
What happened: Texas, February 2021
Millions of Texans lost power in a freeze. Families tried to stay warm with cars in garages and grills indoors. More than 1,400 people sought emergency care for carbon monoxide poisoning that week, and 42% of them were children.
The lesson: Never run a generator, grill or car inside your home or garage. Get a CO alarm.
Get ready before it happens
- Power and light: LED lights for everyone, spare batteries, a charged power bank, a radio. Find the water and gas shut-offs.
- Food that needs no power: 3 days of food you can eat cold, and a manual can opener. A thermometer in the fridge and freezer.
- Make the home safer: Test the smoke alarms. Fit a carbon monoxide alarm with battery backup. Check the fire extinguisher.
Questions people ask
How long is food safe in the fridge when the power is out?
About 4 hours if you keep the door shut. After that, throw out meat, fish, eggs, milk and leftovers.
How long does a freezer stay cold without power?
About 48 hours if it is full and 24 hours if it is half full, as long as the door stays shut.
How far from the house should a generator be?
Outside only, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and vents. Never plug it into a wall outlet.
Is it safe to heat a home with a gas oven or a grill?
No. Never heat with a grill, an oven or a generator indoors. They can fill your home with carbon monoxide.
Sources
Every step on this page comes from these sources. We check them when we review the page.
- Ready.gov: Power outages
- FoodSafety.gov: Food safety during a power outage
- CDC: Carbon monoxide poisoning basics
- Texas Tribune / ProPublica: Carbon monoxide poisonings in the February 2021 freeze
General safety information, not medical advice. Always follow instructions from local officials and 911 dispatchers.