01
Food Safety
Keep-or-toss windows for the fridge and freezer, by food type, with the temperature thresholds behind them.
ReferenceIndependent, sourced from USDA, OSHA and utility protocols
Outage guidance with numbers, not reassurance
Food-safety windows, generator sizing and runtime, heat and cold without HVAC, and the electrical basics behind them, drawn from USDA, OSHA and utility data.
122 articles · updated October 15, 2026
Outage Heating And CoolingPropane Fireplace for Backup Heat: Safety and Fuel Use
What OutageGuide covers
OutageGuide is a reference for the hours and days after the lights go out. It is written by a former utility emergency coordinator, sells no gear and carries no affiliate links. If a claim needs a number, we find one; if something is genuinely uncertain, we say so.
02
Backup Power
Generator sizing, fuel weight and shelf life, transfer switches, power stations and battery runtime.
03
Heat and Cold
Staying cool or warm without HVAC: kerosene and wood heaters, EM heat, snowstorms and when to leave.
04
Electrical Basics
Breakers versus fuses, dead outlets, old wiring, twist locks and what to do about an electrical fire.
Specific numbers, plainly explained
Written by Nora Callahan
Nora spent eight years as a utility emergency coordinator and now writes practical outage guidance without the survivalist theater.
Outage Heating And Cooling12 articles
Generator Fuel Storage And Propane16 articles
Home Electrical Systems And Troubleshooting11 articles
Ask: T-Mobile Not Working? Check Your Phone, Gateway and Outage Status
One question, one sourced answer
Each article takes one question a household actually asks and answers it with the figures behind it, the conditions that change them, and what to do when the number is not known.
Figures the articles come back to:
40°FFridge temperature that starts the food-safety clock
30–40%Generator runtime lost going from half load to full load
4 hoursHow long a closed fridge holds during an outage
Questions readers ask
How long is food safe in a fridge without power?
Keep the door shut for outages up to four hours. The clock really starts when the interior passes 40°F. For longer outages, powered storage or a block-ice cooler comes first; dry ice is a fallback.
How big a generator do I need?
Add up the running watts you will actually use, then make sure the unit covers the largest starting surge. Runtime at full load is 30-40% shorter than the half-load figure on the spec sheet.
Can I run a generator in a shed or garage?
No. Store it under cover while it is off, then run it outdoors well away from the house, with the exhaust pointed away from openings and working CO alarms inside.
Does OutageGuide sell or recommend gear?
No. There are no gear sales and no affiliate links. Guidance comes from USDA, OSHA and utility emergency protocols, and where a number is uncertain the article says so.
Recent articles
Newest first. Each one states its sources and the conditions its numbers hold under.
Generator Fuel Storage And Propane
Propane Stoves During a Power Outage: What You Can Use Safely
Portable propane stoves belong outdoors. Learn when a kitchen range can work without power, what to check in its manual, and when to leave immediately.
Home Electrical Systems And Troubleshooting
Low Voltage Lighting: Will It Work During a Power Outage?
Low voltage lighting is not automatically outage lighting. Check its power source, AC/DC requirements and actual watts before planning battery backup.
Generator Fuel Storage And Propane
White Gas: What It Is and How to Use It During an Outage
Learn what white gas is, how it differs from gasoline, and how to handle and store it safely for outdoor cooking during a power outage.
Outage Home Security And Preparedness
Rolling Blackouts: What to Do and How Long They Last
Check whether your outage is rotating, understand duration estimates, and protect food, medical equipment and household safety through repeated cuts.
Outage Home Security And Preparedness
T-Mobile Not Working? Check Your Phone, Gateway and Outage Status
Separate a T-Mobile outage from a phone or 5G Home Internet problem, follow safe restart steps, and stay reachable during a power outage.
Home Electrical Systems And Troubleshooting
Brownout: What It Means and What to Do
Dim lights may signal a brownout or partial-power fault. Learn what to switch off, when to call your utility, and how to protect food and electronics.