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Chicago-area outages tend to come from a few predictable sources: summer thunderstorms and derechos, winter ice and wind, and the occasional heat wave that strains the grid. Each one brings its own risks. July outages threaten flooded basements and spoiled food. January outages bring cold houses and frozen pipes.
The difference between a stressful outage and a minor inconvenience is almost always preparation. This checklist is built around Midwest realities. Work through the “before” section once, then keep the “during” section somewhere you can find it in the dark.
Table of Contents
Before the Next Outage: The Basics
- Save your utility’s outage line. ComEd: 1-800-334-7661, or text OUT to 26633. Ameren Illinois: 1-800-755-5000. Both also post live outage maps online.
- Sign up for outage text alerts through your utility account so you get restoration estimates.
- Stock lighting. Rechargeable LED lanterns and headlamps are safer and brighter than candles. Keep one on each floor.
- Keep phones charged and own at least one charged 20,000mAh power bank.
- Know your garage door’s manual release (the red cord) so you can get the car out.
- Write down important numbers on paper in case your phone dies.
- Keep some cash on hand, since card readers may be down.
Before: Backup Power
- Decide what you must keep running: fridge, sump pump, furnace blower, Wi-Fi, medical devices.
- Size a portable power station for those loads, or plan a generator with a properly installed transfer switch or interlock.
- Test it twice a year, before storm season and before winter. Actually run the fridge and sump pump from it.
- Keep it charged. LFP power stations hold a charge well. Top them up every few months.
- Buy heavy-duty extension cords (12–14 gauge) rated for your loads.
- Generator owners: store fuel safely, add stabilizer, and run the generator for a few minutes every month.
Before: Basement and Water
- Test your sump pump by pouring water into the pit, and test your backup pump too. See can a power station run a sump pump.
- Add a high-water alarm in the sump pit.
- Keep valuables off the basement floor on shelves or in plastic bins.
- Extend downspouts away from the foundation.
- On a well? Your well pump won’t run without power. Store about a gallon of drinking water per person per day for at least three days.
Before: Food and Medicine
- Put appliance thermometers in the fridge (40°F or below) and freezer (0°F or below).
- Keep frozen water jugs in the freezer. They hold the cold and double as drinking water.
- Have a cooler and ice packs ready for essentials.
- Plan for refrigerated medications, such as insulin. Ask your pharmacist how long they’re stable at room temperature.
- Medical devices: if anyone relies on a CPAP, oxygen concentrator or other powered device, plan dedicated battery backup and talk to your utility about medical certification programs.
During an Outage
- Report it to your utility, even if you assume a neighbor already has.
- Check whether it’s just you. If neighbors have power, check your main breaker first.
- Keep the fridge and freezer closed. A closed fridge keeps food safe for about 4 hours, and a full freezer for about 48 hours (USDA).
- Unplug sensitive electronics to protect them from surges when power returns. Leave one lamp switched on so you know when it’s back.
- Prioritize your backup power. Sump pump first during a storm, then the fridge in short cycles (here’s the math), then communications and lights.
- Stay away from downed lines. Assume every downed wire is live. Report it and keep kids and pets away.
- Generator safety: outdoors only, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents, and never in a garage, even with the door open. Run battery-powered carbon monoxide alarms.
- Never backfeed your home through a dryer outlet or a double-male “suicide cord.” It can electrocute utility workers and neighbors and start fires.
Winter Outages
- Your gas furnace probably won’t run. It needs electricity for the blower, igniter and controls. Some homeowners power it from a power station or generator through an electrician-installed inlet or transfer switch, which is worth planning before winter.
- Pick one room, close it off, and gather there. Hang blankets over doorways and windows.
- Prevent frozen pipes. Open cabinet doors under sinks, let faucets on exterior walls drip, and know where your main water shutoff is. If the outage runs long in deep cold, consider draining your plumbing.
- Dress in layers, wear hats and use cold-rated sleeping bags.
- Never heat the house with a gas oven, grill or camp stove.
- Use battery power wisely. A space heater drains a power station fast. A heated blanket or the furnace blower is far more efficient. See can a power station run a space heater.
Summer Outages
- Close blinds on sunny windows during the day, and open windows at night to cool the house.
- Stay hydrated and spend the hottest hours on the lowest floor.
- Check on older neighbors and anyone with medical needs. Heat is dangerous.
- Keep pets cool with shade and plenty of water.
- Run a fan from a power station. A box fan uses only 50–100W, so it lasts for hours.
- Know your nearest cooling center if the outage lasts through a heat wave.
After the Power Returns
- Plug electronics back in gradually to avoid overloading circuits.
- Check fridge and freezer temperatures. When in doubt, throw it out: discard perishables that were above 40°F for more than 2 hours. Food in the freezer that still has ice crystals or is at 40°F or below can be refrozen.
- Reset clocks, thermostats and the garage door.
- Recharge everything: your power station, power banks, lanterns and radios.
- Restock anything you used.
- Write down what worked and what didn’t, then update this list for your home.
A Simple Outage Kit
LED lantern (rechargeable)
- Safer than candles
- Lights a whole room
- USB or solar recharge
Power bank (20,000mAh+)
- Keeps phones charged for days
- Easy to stash in a drawer
- Get a USB-C PD model
Fridge/freezer thermometers
- Know whether food is still safe
- Inexpensive
- Leave them in year-round
Weather/emergency radio
- Hand-crank and solar charging
- NOAA weather alerts
- Charges a phone in a pinch
~1,000Wh power station
Powers the fridge, Wi-Fi and lights quietly and safely indoors, and pairs with solar for long outages.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I report a ComEd outage?
Call 1-800-334-7661, text OUT to 26633, or report it through ComEd’s website or app. Ameren Illinois customers can call 1-800-755-5000.
How long does food last in the fridge without power?
About 4 hours if the door stays closed. A full freezer holds for about 48 hours, and a half-full one for about 24.
Is it safe to use a generator in the garage with the door open?
No. Carbon monoxide can build up quickly and seep into the house. Generators belong outside, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents.
What should I back up first during an outage?
In a storm, the sump pump. Otherwise, the fridge (in cycles), then medical devices, communications and lights.
The Bottom Line
Most outages are an inconvenience. With a tested sump plan, a charged power station and a few basics, they stay that way. Print this list, tape it inside a cabinet door, and review it each spring and fall.