Now is the best time to prepare for a power outage. Finding ways to cope after an outage has occurred is much more difficult than taking precautions and making plans ahead of time. Purchase equipment and tools and make paper copies of needed information. Each family should have a battery powered or hand crank radio, an alternative cooking method such as a Sterno Stove, shelf stable food that doesn’t require cooking, and a corded phone or phone charger that does not require electricity to function. Each family member should have a flashlight, extra batteries, and an extra blanket or covering for their use.
WHEN THE POWER GOES OUT:
• Report your power outage to make sure the electric company is aware of your location. Look for the emergency phone number on your electric bill.
• Stay away from downed power lines and do not walk through water where a line is down.
• Turn off air conditioners, furnaces, fans, and lights; unplug computers, televisions, and small appliances. Do not open the refrigerator or freezer unless absolutely necessary. Leave one light on so that you know when power is restored.
Below is a Power Restoration Time Chart1 for the Texas Gulf Coast after a hurricane. Estimates will probably be similar in your area.
| Hurricane | Wind Speed | Estimated Outage Period |
| Category 1 | Winds 74-95 mph (64-82 knots) | 7 to 10 days |
| Category 2 | Winds 96-110 mph (83-95 knots) | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Category 3 | Winds 111-129 mph (96-113 knots) | 3 to 5 weeks |
| Category 4 | Winds 130-156 mph (114-135 knots) | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Category 5 | Winds 157 mph and up (136+ knots) | 6 to 8 weeks |
The electric companies have priorities set for restoring electrical service. The first priority is to facilities important to safety, health, and public welfare such as hospitals, water treatment plants, fire stations, and other public service facilities. Next, are those power grids that will restore power to the largest number of customers in the shortest amount of time. The more people affected by an outage on a power grid, the greater the likelihood of getting power restored relatively quickly.2
Look online for an outage tracker for your energy company. It should report the number of customers affected by an outage and give the estimated restoration time for each outage.
1CenterPoint Energy “Hurricane Preparedness Tips”
2CenterPoint Energy “How We Restore Power After Storms”