What to Do During Power Outage

SOUTHEAST, NY — Time to prepare for a loss of power and hope the lights stay on.

To report an outage or an electrical emergency, visit Outage Central or contact NYSEG at 1.800.572.1131.

Here are tips for BEFORE the power goes out:

• Keep flashlights, a battery-powered radio and fresh batteries handy.
• Have at least one telephone that is not dependent on electricity. (Cordless phones won’t work during a power interruption.)
• Keep a supply of non-perishable food and bottled water on hand.
• If you have a cell phone, make sure the battery is fully charged.

And what if it does?

• Contact neighbors to see if their power is off. You may have simply blown a fuse or tripped a circuit breaker.
• Contact NYSEG at 1.800.572.1131 to report a power interruption, and please have your account number handy. Our telephone systems let you report the problem, helps our crews respond quickly and efficiently, and provides you with power interruption updates. You can call as often as you like for updates. Because many people may be trying to reach us during a power interruption, phone lines may be busy. Please be patient.
• If your basement or home is in danger of flooding, contact NYSEG to turn off your electricity and/or natural gas service. Never enter a flooded basement or home until electricity and natural gas service have been turned off.
• Listen to a battery-powered radio for weather and power restoration updates.
• Turn off major appliances (electric water heaters, refrigerators and freezers) and sensitive electronic equipment (TVs, VCRs, DVD players, computers, stereos) to prevent overloading and possible damage when power is restored. Turning off this equipment may mean that you have to unplug it, turn off the circuit breaker or remove the fuse for the circuit in your home that provides power to this equipment. Leave one light switch “on” so you’ll know when power has been restored.
• Emergency generators can be dangerous. If you use one, carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Operate your generator outdoors in a clean, dry, well-ventilated area and never indoors or in a garage. Click here to view our safety tips.
• Don’t use a natural gas or propane range to heat your home.
• Make sure your electric stove tops and/or ovens are off. When the power is restored, the burners may begin heating up and could be a hazard.
• Never use a grill or stove intended for use outdoors in your home.
• Keep your refrigerator and freezer closed as much as possible. Most food will last 24 hours if you minimize the opening of refrigerator and freezer doors.
• State law requires that if the traffic lights or controls are out of service or malfunctioning when you approach an intersection, you must come to a stop as you would for a stop sign. You must then proceed according to the rules of right of way, unless you are directed to proceed by a traffic officer.

Protect your food.

To protect your food, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Food will stay frozen for 36 hours or more in a fully-loaded freezer if you keep the door closed.A half-full freezer will generally keep food frozen for 24 hours.Consider freezing containers of water ahead of time. The blocks of ice will help keep your food remain frozen longer.For more information on keeping food safe during a power outage, visit the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service: ABCD's of Keeping Food Safe in an Emergency.