Is there a power outage near me? How to check, and what to do
Last checked November 11, 2026.
When the lights go out, the first question is whether it’s just your home or the whole street, and the second is how long it will last. Your electric company has the answers. Here is how to check, how to report it, and what to do in the meantime, from the federal Ready.gov guidance.
The short answer
- Check your breakers first. If a neighbor’s lights are on and yours aren’t, it may be your home alone.
- Look at your electric company’s outage map, on its website or app. It shows outages near you and, once crews have looked, when power should be back.
- Report the outage to the electric company. Don’t assume a neighbor already did: a report ties the outage to your address.
- Keep the fridge and freezer closed. Ready.gov says a refrigerator keeps food cold for about four hours, and a full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours.
How to check if the power is out in your area
- Find your electric company’s name on your bill. Its outage map is usually linked from the top of its home page as “Outages”.
- Sign up for its outage alerts by text or email before the next storm. Most companies send a message when an outage is found and another when it’s fixed.
- Save the outage phone number in your phone, since the website won’t help if your internet is down too.
- Check your town’s official social media accounts and emergency alerts for big storms, road closures and warming or cooling centers.
If you rent, your landlord doesn’t control the power to the street, but tell them if only your unit is out. It could be a problem in the building.
Food in the fridge and freezer
| What Ready.gov says | |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator, door closed | Keeps food cold for about four hours |
| Full freezer, door closed | Keeps its temperature for about 48 hours |
| When to throw food out | If it was at 40 degrees or higher for two hours or more, or it smells, looks or feels unusual |
A thermometer in the fridge and freezer settles the question. When in doubt, throw it out.
Staying safe until it’s back
- Run generators, camp stoves and charcoal grills outdoors only, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages.
- Don’t heat your home with a gas stove or oven. It raises the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Have working carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home, with batteries.
- Unplug appliances and electronics so a surge doesn’t damage them when the power comes back.
- Check with local officials about heating and cooling locations open near you.
Hear about the next one first
- For outages, your electric company’s own alerts are the fastest.
- MailerDot sends one free email a day for your town with its local news, so a big storm, a planned outage the town announces or a warming center opening is in the next morning’s email.
Questions people ask
How do I know when the power will be back? Your electric company’s outage map or text alert gives an estimate once crews have looked at the damage. Early estimates change, so check again.
Is food in the fridge still safe after a power outage? If the power was out for more than about four hours and the door was opened, check the temperature. Ready.gov says to throw away food that was at 40 degrees or higher for two hours or more.
Where should I put a generator? Outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages, as Ready.gov advises.
Find your town’s free daily email →