With extreme weather events driving longer and more frequent grid disruptions, emergency management officials say the time to prepare is before an outage begins — not during one.

Power outages triggered by winter storms, heat waves, wildfires, or accidents can turn serious — or even fatal — depending on their duration and the outside temperature, emergency preparedness experts said Monday.

The surest protection, they said, is being ready before the lights go out.

“When thinking about preparedness, I always think about the old proverb of, ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,’” said Michael Coe, vice president for physical and cybersecurity programs with the American Public Power Association.

As MSI previously reported on the core framework experts recommend for surviving a blackout, preparation spans three areas: supplies assembled in advance, a household plan established before any crisis, and reliable ways to send and receive emergency information — guidance detailed in full here.

Before the blackout

Preparation depends on a household’s specific circumstances, said Denise Everhart, disaster executive with the American Red Cross. Families with young children, pets, or people who depend on powered medical equipment face different challenges than other households.

Coe said residents who rely on powered medical devices should inform their utility company. Many utilities post forms on their websites for customers to disclose medical needs, so those customers can be considered during planned or emergency shutoffs.

“There are ways to provide backup batteries or other types of energy so that if there is some type of power shut-off, that they wouldn’t be affected,” Coe said.

Emergency kits, the experts said, should include:

  • Two weeks of food, water, pet supplies, and medicine
  • Cash for a week, in case ATMs and card machines go down
  • Flashlights, glow sticks, or battery lanterns
  • Backup phone batteries and charging cables
  • Blankets in cold weather, or extra water in hot weather
  • Written phone numbers of family and friends, in case the phone dies
  • A solar-powered or hand-crank radio for emergency alerts if cell towers stop working

Choosing the right food matters. Everhart said it should be nutritional, edible, and something household members will actually eat.

“Is your 6-year-old really going to eat a cold can of chili?” she said.

Matthew Gonzales, executive director for the Consumer Energy Alliance Southwest Region, recommended filling the bathtub or a large bucket before an outage for residents who rely on well water, so they can continue flushing the toilet after the pump stops working.

During the outage

Once power fails, keeping the refrigerator and freezer closed extends how long food stays safe. Food can last up to four hours in a refrigerator and up to 48 hours in a freezer, Coe said — but those timelines shorten each time the door is opened to let warmer air in.

If the outside temperature is around 37 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius), moving perishables outdoors can buy additional time. But outdoor temperatures can fluctuate, Everhart said, and when in doubt the food should not be eaten.

Residents should verify that their water supply is safe before using it. The Red Cross emergency app, Everhart said, displays government alerts such as boil water notices when the supply becomes contaminated.

Space heaters, hand warmers, heated blankets, and portable propane heaters can all help during cold outages. Everhart warned against leaving space heaters or candles unattended because of the risk of house fires. Generators should never be operated indoors, she added, because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

If conditions become too hot or too cold to remain safely at home, leaving is the right decision, Everhart said. Before going, Gonzales said, check on neighbors if possible.

Planning for next time

The best time to prepare for an outage is when no threat is imminent, the experts said. Practical steps include:

  • Learning how to open a garage door without power
  • Keeping keys and important documents in one place for a fast evacuation
  • Establishing an alternate evacuation route in case the primary one is closed
  • Agreeing with family members on how to make contact if internet or cell service fails

Residents who want greater long-term resilience can save for a portable generator. Units that supply 5,000 to 10,000 watts — sufficient to run a microwave, refrigerator, or space heater while keeping phones charged — typically cost $500 to $1,000. Solar battery storage or reverse electric vehicle charging can also provide backup power when the grid fails.

For most outages, Everhart said, the fundamentals remain straightforward.

“Have a kit, have a plan, have a way to get notified, and a way to notify people. That’s really preparedness in a nutshell,” she said.