First 10 Minutes of a Power Outage: Check Breaker, Save Food, Stay Ready - FlintReady

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. 01

   Diagnose breaker vs. grid outage in 60 seconds

   Before anything else, figure out what you're dealing with: a tripped breaker in your home (easy fix) or a utility grid outage (you're waiting for the power company). Check the three signals in order. First: look outside — are your neighbors' lights out? Street lights off? If yes, it's a grid outage. If you have power at neighbors and none of yours, go to step two. Second: check your main electrical panel (breaker box). Most homes have it in a garage, utility closet, basement, or hallway. Open the panel door and look for any breaker that is in the middle position (between ON and OFF) or clearly switched to OFF. A tripped breaker has usually moved to center. Third: if you find a tripped breaker, flip it fully to OFF, then firmly back to ON. If it trips again immediately, you have an electrical problem — leave it off and call an electrician. If you find nothing tripped and neighbors are also without power, you have a grid outage. Report it via your utility's mobile app or outage phone number (not 911).

   Warning: Do NOT report a power outage to 911 unless there is an associated emergency — downed live power lines, fire from electrical equipment, or a person incapacitated by medical equipment that requires power. 911 handles emergencies; your utility company handles outages.
2. 02

   Locate your flashlights and headlamps immediately

   Do this before it gets dark outside or before you need to navigate the house. The single biggest preparedness failure is lights that are not where people thought they were, or that have dead batteries. Every adult should know exactly where the primary flashlight or headlamp is in your home — ideally in the same drawer or hook in every bedroom. If you are doing this during an outage and discovering the problem, prioritize finding at least one light source per person before darkness. Use your phone flashlight as a bridge, but it drains your battery fast — switch to a dedicated light as soon as possible. If you don't have flashlights, a power outage is the reminder: add at least two headlamps and one room lantern to your setup today.

   Warning: Candles are a last resort. They cause approximately 8,000 house fires annually in the US — most of them during power outages when people are distracted, stressed, or asleep. If you must use candles, never leave them unattended, keep them away from anything flammable, and extinguish before sleeping.
3. 03

   Keep the refrigerator and freezer closed — run the clock

   Your refrigerator will keep food safely below 40°F for approximately 4 hours if you keep the door closed. Your freezer, if full, will stay below 0°F for up to 48 hours — a half-full freezer, about 24 hours. The clock starts when power goes out, not when you notice. The key rule: every time you open the fridge or freezer, you lose 15–30 minutes of safe time. Designate snacks and drinks that are already outside the fridge for the first hours of any outage. If you have a refrigerator thermometer, check it without fully opening the door (slide it out through a slight gap) to assess temperature without losing significant cold. For outages you know will exceed 4 hours, consider moving the most perishable items (meat, dairy, eggs) into a cooler with ice.

   Warning: The "when in doubt, throw it out" rule applies to meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, and cut produce that have been above 40°F for more than 2 hours. Foodborne illness from improperly stored protein is serious — the potential hospital bill is not worth saving $40 of groceries. Condiments, hard cheeses, and shelf-stable items generally survive extended outages safely.
4. 04

   Unplug sensitive electronics before power returns

   Power surges when electricity is restored cause significant damage to computers, televisions, modems, routers, and smart devices — far more than the outage itself. As soon as you confirm it is a grid outage, unplug electronics from wall outlets. Surge protectors help, but they are not perfect, especially for large surges. This is also a good time to identify what in your home runs on electricity vs. battery, and to disable unnecessary lights and electronics so that when power returns, you are not running your full load at once (which can contribute to another trip on an overtaxed grid). Leave one lamp plugged in as a "power restored" indicator, so you know when to reconnect everything.

   Warning: Medical equipment (CPAP, oxygen concentrators, infusion pumps) should have a backup power plan that is not reliant on your portable station unless it has been verified to power that specific device. Confirm wattage requirements before the next outage.
5. 05

   Charge priority devices now if you have battery backup

   In the first few minutes, while your portable power station or power bank still has charge, prioritize: (1) your primary phone — this is your communication, flashlight, and map; (2) any medical device batteries; (3) the emergency radio if it has a rechargeable battery. Do not charge everything at once — focus on what matters most. If your portable power station has a solar input, get it outside or in a south-facing window to begin recharging now; every watt of solar input extends your runway. If you have a car with a USB port, that is a backup phone-charging option — run the engine in a well-ventilated area (not a closed garage) for no more than 20 minutes at a time to avoid carbon monoxide buildup.

6. 06

   Get grid status and make the short-term vs. long-term call

   Tune your emergency radio to local news or NOAA Weather Radio. Check your utility's app or text status line for estimated restoration time (ETR). This is the decision point: (1) Short-term outage (under 4 hours): stay put, ride it out, keep the fridge closed, do not run any generators. (2) Extended outage (4–24 hours): execute the food preservation steps (cooler with ice, eat from the fridge first), move to battery lighting, reduce activity to preserve body heat in winter or stay cool in summer. (3) Multi-day outage: this becomes a shelter-in-place situation. Assess your medical needs (medications that require refrigeration), heating/cooling situation, and whether you should relocate to a hotel, family, or emergency shelter. A multi-day winter outage in a cold climate or summer outage in extreme heat can be life-threatening, particularly for elderly residents and infants.

   Warning: Extreme heat and extreme cold are both life-threatening during extended outages. If your home drops below 50°F or rises above 90°F and you cannot maintain a safe temperature zone, relocate — hotels, warming centers, or cooling centers are the right move. This is especially critical for anyone over 65, under 2, or with heart/lung conditions.
7. 07

   Check on neighbors — especially those dependent on medical equipment

   Once your household is stable in the first 10 minutes, do a quick check on immediate neighbors — especially anyone you know is elderly, lives alone, or relies on powered medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators, nebulizers, or electric wheelchairs. A brief knock or check-in takes 2 minutes and can prevent a medical emergency. During winter outages, hypothermia risk rises rapidly for elderly people who cannot regulate body temperature well. During summer outages, heat stroke risk rises within hours for the same population. If you discover someone in medical distress from the outage — confusion, difficulty breathing, severe discomfort — call 911 immediately.

   Warning: Carbon monoxide poisoning from improper generator use is a leading cause of death during power outages. If a neighbor is running a generator, ensure it is at least 20 feet from any window, door, or vent — including yours. CO is invisible and odorless. If anyone in the area reports sudden headaches, dizziness, or nausea, move outside immediately and call 911.
8. 08

   Decision tree: when to shelter in place vs. when to relocate

   Short outage (under 4 hours): shelter in place. No action needed beyond lights and fridge management. Medium outage (4–24 hours): shelter in place with food and power management. Consider a hotel if you have medical equipment needs or infant formula requirements. Long outage (1–3 days): evaluate your heating/cooling situation, food supply, and medication needs. Execute your shelter-in-place plan if you have one; relocate if conditions become dangerous. Extended outage (3+ days): this is a full emergency situation. Activate your full emergency kit. Contact local emergency management for shelter information. If you are in a winter storm scenario: pipes may freeze — shut off water to the house and drain pipes if interior temperature drops below 40°F for an extended time. If you are in a heat emergency: cooling centers are often opened by local governments — check your emergency radio or city website.

   Warning: Do not wait until conditions are dangerous to make the relocation call. The decision to leave is always easier and safer at the 24-hour mark than at the 72-hour mark when resources are depleted, conditions are worse, and you are already fatigued.