How to Get Through a Power Outage Safely at Home

This guide is for any household that wants to know exactly what to do when the power goes off, whether for an hour or several days. You will learn how to check what has happened, report it, keep your home safe, protect food and medicines, stay warm or cool, and get things back to normal when the power returns. If anyone is in danger, call your local emergency number, and always follow official emergency services, government and utility advice, which overrides this guide. General information, not professional advice.

The First Few Minutes

When the lights go out, the most important thing is to stay calm and avoid accidents. Many injuries during outages are simple trips and falls in the dark, or fires started by candles. Take a moment before moving around.

1. Get light safely Use a torch or headlamp rather than candles. Keep one by each bed and in a known place in the kitchen so you can find it by feel.
2. Check whether it is just your home Look out of the window to see whether streetlights and neighbours' lights are on. If the whole street is dark, the problem is probably on the supply network, not in your home.
3. Check your consumer unit or fuse box If only your home is affected, look at your fuse box or circuit-breaker panel. A tripped switch may mean an appliance has a fault. If you are unsure, see any smell of burning, or the switch trips again immediately, leave it off and contact a qualified electrician.
4. Report the outage Contact your electricity network operator or supplier using their outage line, website or app. Many countries have a single power-cut number; check your bill or your utility's website and save the number in your phone now, before you need it.
5. Switch off and unplug Turn off and unplug sensitive electronics and appliances that could be damaged by a surge when power returns. Leave one light switched on so you know when the supply is back.

If you live in a flat or apartment building, the lifts will stop and corridor lighting may switch to emergency lights only. Avoid using the lifts until the power is fully restored and the building manager says they are safe. If you have an electric front door lock, entry system or garage door, find out now how to open it manually, because these can trap people in or out during an outage.

Before the next outage, a little preparation makes everything easier. Keep a basic emergency kit with water, food that needs no cooking, torches and spare batteries, and charge your phone and power bank whenever a storm or heatwave is forecast. If your utility sends warnings of planned work or rolling outages, add them to your calendar.

Stay Informed Without Draining Your Phone

During a longer outage, reliable information matters. Utility companies usually publish estimated restoration times online, and local authorities and emergency services share safety updates through official alert systems, local radio and their websites. Alert systems differ from country to country, so find out now which ones apply where you live and how to sign up.

• Switch your phone to low-power mode, dim the screen and close apps you do not need.
• Check for updates at set times, for example every hour, rather than constantly.
• Use a charged power bank, or charge your phone in a car only while the car is parked outdoors in the open and running safely; never run a car in a garage, even with the door open.
• Use a battery or wind-up radio for local news so you do not depend on mobile data.
• Treat rumours on social media with caution and rely on official sources such as your utility, local authority and emergency services.

If you have a landline that needs mains power, it may not work during an outage. Mobile networks may also slow down if lots of people are calling at once, so a text message is often more likely to get through when you want to tell family you are safe.