Storms, Power Outages, and Coming Back On Safely
Independent, non-commercial educational guide.
electrohassan.com is an independent, non-commercial educational guide about home electrical safety for people without electrical training. It sells nothing, promotes no electrician, contractor, store, or brand, accepts no advertising, recommends no specific product, and has no affiliation with any organization in the directory below, or any other named organization.
This page summarizes what emergency-preparedness agencies, fire-safety associations, and workplace-safety regulators publish about storms and power outages, at a general level. It is not emergency instructions for a specific event, and it does not replace the directions of your local utility, fire department, or emergency management office. Storms damage home electrical systems in a few predictable ways, and the return of power brings its own hazards. Knowing the mechanisms helps you decide when to act and when to stop and hire a licensed electrician.
What a storm does to a home's electricity
Lightning can strike near service lines and push a surge through the wiring into the panel and the electronics plugged in downstream. Wind drops branches onto service drops, the overhead cables between the pole and your house, which can pull the attachment point loose or break a conductor. Floodwater reaching outlets, cords, and appliances puts water where live parts sit, and water conducts. When utility power returns after an outage, the restoration itself can send a surge through the service panel.
What the weather service says about lightning
The National Weather Service is the U.S. federal agency that issues weather forecasts, watches, and warnings. Its lightning safety guidance, at the National Weather Service, covers the core rule: when thunder roars, go indoors. The page explains that lightning can travel through a building's wiring and plumbing, so during a storm you should stay away from corded devices and from plumbing. It also covers the 30-minute rule after the last thunder is heard.
Before, during, and after an outage
The American Red Cross publishes power outage safety guidance on its website. The page covers preparation supplies such as flashlights, batteries, and a battery-powered radio; food safety during an outage, including when refrigerated and frozen food should be discarded; safe use of generators and alternate power sources; and what to check when power returns. The rule on generators is absolute: never run a generator indoors, in a garage, or in any enclosed or partly enclosed space, because the carbon monoxide it produces is invisible and can be fatal.
The return of power
A surge at restoration can stress electronics even when the outage itself was calm. The habit that helps is to switch off or unplug sensitive devices during an outage and bring them back one at a time after power returns. A flooded basement with live circuits is an electrician-and-utility problem, never a wade-in problem: water and energized wiring together are a shock hazard, and the correct move is to stay out and call for help.
A storm-readiness table
| Moment | One action that matters most | Hazard it prevents |
|---|---|---|
| Storm forecast announced | Charge devices and stage flashlights and batteries | Being without light or communication when power fails |
| Storm underway | Stay indoors and away from corded devices and plumbing | Lightning traveling through wiring and pipes |
| Power goes out | Unplug or switch off sensitive electronics | Surge damage when power returns |
| Outage lasts hours | Keep the refrigerator and freezer closed; check food before eating | Foodborne illness from spoiled food |
| Power returns | Bring devices back one at a time | Overloading a circuit or a device |
| Floodwater touched wiring | Stay out and call a licensed electrician and the utility | Electric shock from energized water |
The source directory
Fire-safety associations
- the NFPA publishes fire and electrical safety codes and standards; its home fire safety pages cover electrical fire prevention.
- the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents publishes home-safety guidance, including electrical accident prevention.
Workplace-safety regulators
- OSHA publishes electrical safety guidance; its electrical standards page and 1910.303 cover general electrical requirements.
- the Health and Safety Executive publishes electricity guidance for workplaces and the public.
- WorkSafe New Zealand publishes electricity safety guidance.
Consumer and product-safety organizations
- Electrical Safety First publishes consumer electrical safety guidance; its guidance and safety around the home pages cover everyday hazards.
- UL Research Institutes publishes safety science and research on electrical products and systems.
- Safe Kids Worldwide publishes child-injury prevention guidance, including electrical safety.
Emergency-preparedness and weather agencies
- the American Red Cross publishes power outage safety guidance.
- the National Weather Service publishes lightning safety guidance.
A reading order for new visitors
Start with the home page for the basics of how a home circuit and service panel work. Then read outlets, cords, and appliances for everyday safe use. Next, when to call an electrician sets the line between a safe habit and a job for a licensed professional. Finally, children and every room covers child safety room by room.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a generator in my garage if the door is open?
No. The American Red Cross guidance says never run a generator indoors, in a garage, or in any enclosed or partly enclosed space, because carbon monoxide can build up even with a door open.
Is it safe to wade into a flooded basement to shut off the power?
No. Water and energized wiring together are a shock hazard. Stay out and call a licensed electrician and your utility.
Should I unplug electronics before a storm?
Unplugging sensitive electronics during an outage and bringing them back one at a time after power returns is a reasonable habit. For wiring changes or a whole-home surge protector, hire a licensed electrician.
When can I go back outside after thunder?
The National Weather Service guidance is to wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder is heard before going back outside.