INFRASTRUCTURE
Power outage: 24-72 hours
Short-term grid outage. Keep cool, keep food safe, protect medical needs.
Official evacuation orders and immediate life-threatening hazards take priority over this guide. Call 911 in an emergency.
1WHAT TO VERIFY
- Check your utility's outage map or call them to confirm the outage and estimated restoration time.
- Check for official instructions: shelter-in-place, boil-water, evacuation or curfew orders.
- Do not act on unverified social media posts or forwarded messages.
2IMMEDIATE ACTIONS
- Unplug sensitive electronics to prevent surge damage when power returns.
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed (fridge ~4 hours, full freezer ~48 hours).
- Switch to flashlights or battery lanterns, avoid candles.
3HOUSEHOLD SAFETY
- Never run a generator, grill or camp stove indoors or in a garage, carbon monoxide kills.
- In Arizona heat, move to the coolest room, hydrate, and check on seniors, children and pets.
- If anyone depends on powered medical equipment, start your backup power plan now.
4COMMUNICATIONS
- Conserve phone battery: lower brightness, close apps, use power banks.
- Use a battery or hand-crank NOAA/AM/FM radio for updates.
- Send a brief check-in to your out-of-area contact.
5SUPPLIES
- Water: at least 1 gallon per person per day for drinking (more in heat).
- Shelf-stable food that needs no cooking.
- Batteries, power banks, manual can opener, cooler with ice.
6SHELTER OR EVACUATION
- Usually shelter in place. Go to a cooling center if your home becomes dangerously hot.
- Follow any official instructions over this guide.
7BUSINESS CONTINUITY
- Notify staff and customers via your communication plan.
- Protect refrigerated inventory and document losses with photos.
8RECOVERY
- When in doubt, throw it out: discard perishable food above 40°F for over 2 hours.
- Restock used supplies and note what you were missing.
OFFICIAL SOURCES
General educational guidance. Not a substitute for official instructions or professional medical advice.