How long will food last in the fridge during a power outage?

A closed refrigerator keeps food safe for about 4 hours. A full freezer holds a safe temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if half-full) if you keep the door shut. Throw out any perishable food — meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, leftovers — that has been above 40°F (4°C) for 2 hours or more. When in doubt, throw it out; you can't always smell or see the bacteria that cause illness.

Is it safe to use a portable generator during an outage?

Only outdoors. Never run a generator inside a home, basement, garage, or shed, or near an open window — even with ventilation. Generator exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless gas that kills quickly. Place it at least 20 feet from the house with the exhaust pointed away from windows, doors, and vents, and install battery-powered CO alarms indoors. Let it cool before refueling, and never plug it directly into a wall outlet.

What should I do the moment the power goes out?

Check whether it's just your home (a tripped breaker) or the wider area — look at whether neighbors have power. Report the outage to your utility. Keep the fridge and freezer closed. Unplug sensitive electronics and turn off major appliances to protect them from a surge when power returns, but leave one light on so you know the moment it's back. Use flashlights rather than candles to avoid fire risk.

How do I report a power outage?

Contact your electric utility directly — most have a 24/7 outage phone line, a text number, and an online outage map. If you don't know who your provider is, find your county on MassOutage and the page lists the utilities that serve it, each with its official outage-reporting phone number and map. Always report downed power lines to your utility and 911, and stay at least 35 feet away from them.

How long do power outages usually last?

Most outages are restored within a few hours, but major storms can cause outages lasting days. On MassOutage, each county page shows a data-driven restoration estimate — the median time that past outages of a similar size took to clear in that specific county — alongside a decade of local outage history.

What to do during a power outage

A safety checklist for the first minutes and the long haul — food, generators, heat and cold, medical needs, and how to report the outage.

Last updated July 9, 2026

The moment the power goes out, confirm whether the outage is just your home or the wider area, report it to your utility, and keep the refrigerator and freezer closed — food stays safe for about 4 hours in the fridge and up to 48 hours in a full freezer. Never run a generator indoors or near a window, and never heat your home with a gas stove or charcoal grill — carbon monoxide is the leading cause of outage deaths.

The first 15 minutes

Check whether neighbors have power. If only your home is dark, check your main breaker before reporting.
Report the outage to your utility (phone, text, or its outage map).
Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors shut.
Unplug sensitive electronics and switch off major appliances to guard against a surge when power returns.
Leave one light switched on so you know the instant power is restored.
Use flashlights, not candles — candles are a leading cause of house fires during outages.

How long will my food stay safe?

Keep the doors closed as much as possible. A closed refrigerator holds a safe temperature for about 4 hours; a full freezer for about 48 hours (24 hours if half-full). Discard any perishable food — meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, or leftovers — that has been above 40°F (4°C) for 2 hours or more. When in doubt, throw it out: the bacteria that cause illness often leave no smell or taste.

Generator & carbon-monoxide safety

Portable generators are the deadliest part of an outage. Their exhaust contains carbon monoxide (CO) — an odorless, colorless gas that can kill within minutes.

Run a generator outdoors only — never in a home, basement, garage, or shed, even with the door open.
Place it at least 20 feet from the house, with exhaust pointed away from windows, doors, and vents.
Install battery-powered CO alarms on every level of your home.
Let the generator cool before refueling, and store fuel away from living areas.
Never heat your home with a gas stove, oven, or charcoal grill — the same CO risk applies.

Staying warm or cool safely

In cold weather, layer clothing, close off unused rooms, and cover windows at night. In heat, the biggest risk is heat illness — drink water, stay on the lowest floor out of the sun, and go to a public cooling center or somewhere with power if your home becomes dangerously hot. Never use outdoor heating or cooking equipment indoors.

Medical devices & medications

If someone relies on powered medical equipment, have a backup plan before an outage: a charged battery bank, a plan to relocate, and your utility's medical-priority registration if it offers one. Most refrigerated medications, including insulin, tolerate a limited time at room temperature — follow the medication's label and your pharmacist's guidance, and keep the fridge closed to preserve its cold as long as possible.

How to report the outage

Report to your electric utility directly — most have a 24/7 phone line, a text number, and an online outage map. Not sure who serves you? Find your county on MassOutage and the page lists every utility that serves it, each with its official reporting phone number and map. Report downed power lines to your utility and 911, and stay at least 35 feet away — always assume a fallen line is live.

How long will it last?

Most outages clear within a few hours; major storms can mean days. For a data-driven estimate, look up your county on MassOutage — each county page shows the median restoration time from its own past outages of a similar size, a decade of local history, and the natural hazards most likely to knock out power there. See our hazard & outage-risk rankings and how these figures are derived in our methodology.

Power outage safety: FAQ

How long will food last in the fridge during a power outage?: A closed refrigerator keeps food safe for about 4 hours. A full freezer holds a safe temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if half-full) if you keep the door shut. Throw out any perishable food — meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, leftovers — that has been above 40°F (4°C) for 2 hours or more. When in doubt, throw it out; you can't always smell or see the bacteria that cause illness.
Is it safe to use a portable generator during an outage?: Only outdoors. Never run a generator inside a home, basement, garage, or shed, or near an open window — even with ventilation. Generator exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless gas that kills quickly. Place it at least 20 feet from the house with the exhaust pointed away from windows, doors, and vents, and install battery-powered CO alarms indoors. Let it cool before refueling, and never plug it directly into a wall outlet.
What should I do the moment the power goes out?: Check whether it's just your home (a tripped breaker) or the wider area — look at whether neighbors have power. Report the outage to your utility. Keep the fridge and freezer closed. Unplug sensitive electronics and turn off major appliances to protect them from a surge when power returns, but leave one light on so you know the moment it's back. Use flashlights rather than candles to avoid fire risk.
How do I report a power outage?: Contact your electric utility directly — most have a 24/7 outage phone line, a text number, and an online outage map. If you don't know who your provider is, find your county on MassOutage and the page lists the utilities that serve it, each with its official outage-reporting phone number and map. Always report downed power lines to your utility and 911, and stay at least 35 feet away from them.
How long do power outages usually last?: Most outages are restored within a few hours, but major storms can cause outages lasting days. On MassOutage, each county page shows a data-driven restoration estimate — the median time that past outages of a similar size took to clear in that specific county — alongside a decade of local outage history.

This guide is general safety information, not medical or emergency advice. In a life-threatening emergency, call 911. For official guidance see Ready.gov.