Imagine the lights flicker, then go out. No warning, no idea how long it'll last. Would you know what to do in the first ten minutes?

Quick 30-second self-assessment

1. "I know what to expect during an outage" ✓ / ✗
2. "I know how to stay safe" ✓ / ✗
3. "I know the questions to ask myself" ✓ / ✗
4. "I know the signs that mean I should seek help right away" ✓ / ✗

Power outages happen for all kinds of reasons - storms, equipment failures, extreme demand on hot or cold days. Most are short, but some last hours or even days, and the risk grows the longer they go on.

The good news is that surviving an outage comfortably and safely mostly comes down to a few simple habits: knowing what you have, watching for warning signs, and knowing when to seek help.

This guide will help you handle the first few minutes, stay safe for the duration, and know when something requires more than waiting it out - for whenever you're asking:

"Could I survive a power outage?"