Free · printable
Outage Survival Checklist
One page for the fridge door: what to do before, during and after a power outage in Illinois. Every point comes from Ready.gov, CDC and USDA guidance.
Before the storm
- Charge phones, power banks and laptops; keep a car charger in the car.
- Flashlights and spare batteries where you can find them in the dark. Avoid candles: they are a fire risk.
- Water and food that needs no cooking for several days (about a gallon of water per person per day).
- Test the sump pump and its battery backup, if you have one: pour a bucket of water into the pit.
- Medical devices that need power (CPAP, oxygen, refrigerated medicine): ask your doctor or supplier about backup, and keep a list of their power needs.
- Learn how to open the garage door by hand (the red release cord).
- Sign up for your utility's outage alerts and save its outage number in your phone.
- Test your carbon monoxide detectors and their batteries.
During the outage
- Keep the fridge and freezer closed: a closed fridge keeps food cold for about 4 hours, a full freezer about 48 hours (24 if half full).
- Generators only outside, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and vents. Never in the house or the garage, even with the door open.
- Never heat the home with a gas stove or oven.
- Unplug electronics and appliances so a surge doesn't damage them when power comes back; leave one light on to know when it's back.
- Stay away from downed power lines and assume they are live. Report them to your utility and 911.
- Check on neighbors who live alone, are older, or rely on medical equipment.
After the power comes back
- Throw out perishable food that was above 40 °F for 2 hours or more. When in doubt, throw it out.
- Check the sump pit and the basement for water.
- Plug appliances back in one at a time.
- Write down how long the outage lasted and what you missed most: that's exactly what a backup plan should cover.
What would stay on in your home?
Pick what must keep running and see what a battery or a generator would cover. Planning numbers, not a quote.
Sources
- Ready.gov: Power outages
- CDC: Carbon monoxide and generator safety
- USDA / FoodSafety.gov: Food safety in a power outage
Lights On Illinois · lightsonillinois.com. We are not affiliated with ComEd, Ameren, the State of Illinois, or the Illinois Shines program. Storm alerts by email: sign up at the bottom of this page.