Power Outages & Home Generators
Carbon monoxide from generators kills people every year after storms. Power outages also bring fire risks from candles and food spoilage.
- Homeowners
- Renters
Never run a generator inside a home, garage, basement, crawl space or shed, even with doors open. Keep it outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and vents, with the exhaust pointed away. Have working CO alarms. See Smoke & CO Alarms.
Generator safety
- Plug appliances directly into the generator with heavy-duty outdoor cords, or have an electrician install a transfer switch.
- Never backfeed by plugging the generator into a wall outlet. It can electrocute you, neighbors and utility workers.
- Turn it off and let it cool before refueling. Store fuel outside in approved cans.
- Keep it dry, under an open canopy if raining.
During an outage
- Use flashlights and battery lanterns instead of candles.
- Unplug sensitive electronics to avoid surges when power returns.
- Stay away from downed power lines, at least 35 feet, and report them. Assume they’re live.
- Never use gas stoves, grills or camp heaters to heat your home.
- Check on older neighbors and people who rely on medical equipment.
Food safety
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. A closed fridge keeps food cold about 4 hours; a full freezer about 48 hours.
- Throw out perishable food that has been above 40°F for more than 2 hours. When in doubt, throw it out.
Standards & references
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