PNW power outage checklist

Published October 31, 2026. Sources checked Oct 31, 2026.

Windstorms and ice storms can knock out power for days here, and in fire season some utilities may shut power off on purpose. Use this checklist before the next storm.

Before: this week

• Find your utility's outage map and sign up for alerts: PSE, Seattle City Light, or Portland General Electric. Make sure your contact info on your account is current.
• Install battery-operated or battery-backup carbon monoxide alarms near sleeping areas and on every level of the home (CDC, CPSC).
• Put appliance thermometers in the fridge and freezer. The freezer should be at or below 0°F and the fridge at or below 40°F (FDA).
• Have a flashlight for every household member, plus spare batteries (Ready.gov).
• Stock water and shelf-stable food. PSE suggests supplies for at least three days ahead of a likely shutoff (PSE); see Ready.gov's kit list.
• Freeze containers of water and gel packs. They keep food cold longer and the melted ice can be drinking water (FDA).
• Have coolers ready in case the power is out more than 4 hours (FDA).
• List everything you rely on that needs electricity, including medical devices and refrigerated medicine. Talk with your medical provider about an outage plan (Ready.gov). PSE offers a Life Support status for customers who depend on powered medical equipment (PSE).
• Learn to open your garage door manually (PSE).
• Find out whether your home phone works in an outage and keep a battery-powered radio (Ready.gov, PSE).
• Make a household plan with meeting points and contacts (Ready.gov).

When a windstorm or ice storm is forecast

• Charge phones, power banks, and any portable power station.
• Fuel the car and keep some cash on hand (PSE).
• If you own a generator, check it and review the manual so you can run it safely outdoors (CPSC).
• Fill containers with water in case water service is affected (PSE).
• Review winter weather tips on Ready.gov.

During the outage

• Report the outage to your utility and check its map for restoration estimates (PSE).
• Stay away from downed lines. PSE says to assume every wire on the ground is energized and stay at least 35 feet away; call your utility or 911 (PSE).
• Keep the fridge and freezer closed. An unopened fridge keeps food cold for about 4 hours. A full freezer holds its temperature about 48 hours, or about 24 hours if half full (FDA).
• Unplug or switch off appliances and electronics to protect them from surges when power returns. Leave one light on so you know when it is back (Ready.gov, PSE).
• Use flashlights instead of candles (PSE, CPSC).
• Never heat your home with a gas stove or oven (Ready.gov). Never use a charcoal grill or camp stove indoors (CDC).
• Run a generator only outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors, and vents, never in a garage, porch, or carport (CPSC, CDC). Never plug it into a wall outlet.
• Keep portable heaters at least three feet from anything that can burn, and plug electric heaters directly into a wall outlet, never a power strip (CPSC).
• Clear snow away from outside furnace and appliance vents (CPSC).
• If extreme cold sets in, ask local officials about warming locations (Ready.gov).

Multi-day outages

• For a long outage, dry ice or block ice helps. The FDA says 50 pounds of dry ice should keep a fully stocked 18 cubic foot freezer cold for two days (FDA).
• Discard refrigerated perishables such as meat, poultry, seafood, milk, eggs, and leftovers that sat above 40°F for 4 hours or more (FDA).
• Plan to recharge batteries. If you have a generator, see pairing a generator with a battery.
• Check on neighbors, especially older adults and anyone who relies on medical equipment.

Wildfire safety shutoffs (PSPS) and smoke

During hot, dry, windy fire weather, PSE and PGE may turn off power on purpose to prevent wildfires, called a Public Safety Power Shutoff. PSE aims to notify customers 48 hours ahead when the forecast allows, and PGE says customers receive 24 to 48 hours of notice. Both say a shutoff can last from several hours to several days while crews inspect lines (PSE, PGE).

• Check your utility's PSPS page and alerts in summer and early fall.
• Check air quality at AirNow.gov when there is smoke.
• Choose a room you can close off and use a portable air cleaner there. Avoid burning candles, gas, propane, or wood indoors during smoke (CDC).
• If you must go outside in smoke, wear a well-fitted NIOSH Approved respirator (CDC).

After power returns

• Check fridge and freezer thermometers. Frozen food with ice crystals or at 40°F or below can be refrozen or cooked (FDA).
• You cannot rely on appearance or smell. When in doubt, throw it out (FDA, Ready.gov).
• If power was out more than a day, discard medicine that should be refrigerated unless the label says otherwise, and call your doctor or pharmacist (Ready.gov).
• If your utility shows your outage as complete but you are still dark, report it again (PSE).
• Restock and note what you wished you had.

General information only. For your utility's current guidance, use its own pages. For anything connected to home wiring, hire a licensed electrician.

Sources

• Ready.gov: Power Outages, checked Oct 31, 2026
• Ready.gov: Winter Weather, checked Oct 31, 2026
• Ready.gov: Build a Kit, checked Oct 31, 2026
• Ready.gov: Make a Plan, checked Oct 31, 2026
• FDA: Food and Water Safety During Power Outages and Floods, checked Oct 31, 2026
• CDC: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Basics, checked Oct 31, 2026
• CPSC: Winter Storm May Knock Out Power (Feb 19, 2026), checked Oct 31, 2026
• CDC: Safety Guidelines: Wildfires and Wildfire Smoke, checked Oct 31, 2026
• AirNow.gov, checked Oct 31, 2026
• PSE: Report a Power Outage, Alerts and Advisories, Outage FAQs, Public Safety Power Shutoff, checked Oct 31, 2026
• Seattle City Light: Outages and Outage Safety, checked Oct 31, 2026
• PGE: Outages and Public Safety Power Shutoffs, checked Oct 31, 2026