• First, verify if the outage is only limited to your household. If your neighbors still have power, check your breakers and fuses. If the problem doesn’t come from there, check electric lines that supply your house. If they visibly damaged or on the ground, do not get close to them (stay at least 10 meters from the lines) and inform the electricity company. Keep its telephone number and all other emergency numbers near your phone.
• If you neighbors don’t have power either, warn the electricity company.
• Shut down power supply of all household appliances, electrical appliances and electric tools, and turn down the heating system thermostats to the minimum, in order to prevent damages from a power surge. Also, it is easier to restore power when the network isn’t overloaded.
• Turn off all lights, but let one light turned on inside and another one outside so that you and the electricity company team that is outside know that power was recovered.
• Avoid opening the refrigerator or freezer door, unless it is absolutely necessary. A full freezer will keep the food frozen from 24 to 36 hours if the door is kept closed.
• Never use a charcoal or gas barbecues, camping heater or home generators indoor. These appliances produce carbon monoxide, a toxic gas that you can’t smell or see that could cause health problems or event death.
• Always use real candle holders and never let candles burning without anyone watching. Keep out of children’s reach. Always extinguish candles before going to sleep.
• Listen to the news using your battery or wind-up radio to obtain information concerning the power outage and recommendations from authorities.

Security tips :

• Make sure that your house is equipped with a carbon monoxide detector that works. If it’s directly link to the house’s electric network, make sure it contains batteries.
• Protect sensitive electrical appliances like televisions, computers, DVD players using a surge-protecting power bar.