How to Prepare for Power Loss from Nor'easters and Hurricanes

Living in New Jersey and Pennsylvania means preparing for severe weather—particularly nor'easters in winter and hurricanes during the Atlantic hurricane season. These powerful storms frequently cause widespread power outages that can last days or even weeks. As professional electricians who've helped countless families recover from storm damage, we know that advance preparation is crucial for protecting your family, home, and electrical systems.

This guide provides essential steps to prepare your home and electrical system for storm-related power loss. While we can't control the weather, we can control how prepared we are when severe weather strikes.

Before Storm Season: Essential Preparations

1. Schedule a Professional Electrical Inspection

Before storm season arrives, have a licensed electrician inspect your electrical system to identify vulnerabilities:

• Ensure proper grounding: A well-grounded electrical system protects against power surges and lightning strikes
• Test GFCI outlets: Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter outlets prevent electrocution in wet conditions—critical during flooding
• Check panel capacity: Verify your electrical panel can handle emergency equipment like generators and sump pumps
• Inspect outdoor connections: Weather-damaged outdoor outlets and fixtures are common entry points for water and electrical problems
• Verify surge protection: Whole-home surge protectors defend expensive appliances and electronics from power surge damage

2. Install Whole-Home Surge Protection

Power surges during storms can destroy thousands of dollars worth of electronics and appliances. When power is restored after an outage, the sudden surge can damage refrigerators, HVAC systems, computers, and televisions. A whole-home surge protector installed at your electrical panel provides comprehensive protection for your entire home—far more effective than individual plug-in surge strips.

Investment: Professional whole-home surge protection installation typically costs $300-$800 but can prevent damage worth thousands of dollars and is often required by homeowners insurance for full coverage of electronics.

3. Consider Backup Power Options

For extended outages, backup power keeps essential systems running. There are several options depending on budget and needs:

Portable Generators

• Cost: $500-$2,000 depending on capacity
• Best for: Powering essential items like refrigerator, sump pump, select lights
• Critical requirement: Must have a transfer switch professionally installed—NEVER backfeed into your home's electrical system (extremely dangerous and illegal)
• Limitations: Requires manual setup, fuel storage, regular maintenance, and outdoor operation only

Standby Generators

• Cost: $3,000-$15,000+ installed
• Best for: Whole-home power or automatic power to critical systems
• Advantages: Automatic startup during outages, runs on natural gas or propane, no manual intervention needed
• Considerations: Requires professional installation, permits, regular maintenance

Battery Backup Systems

• Cost: $10,000-$30,000+ for whole-home solar + battery systems
• Best for: Clean, quiet power; works with solar panels; provides backup without fossil fuels
• Advantages: No fuel needed, silent operation, environmentally friendly, eligible for tax credits
• Limitations: Higher upfront cost; limited runtime without solar recharging

One Week Before an Expected Storm

4. Test Your Emergency Equipment

Don't wait until power is out to discover your backup equipment doesn't work:

• Generators: Run for 15-20 minutes under load to ensure proper operation
• Transfer switch: Test switching between utility and generator power
• Flashlights and batteries: Verify all have fresh batteries
• Battery-powered or hand-crank emergency radios: Essential for weather updates
• Portable phone chargers: Fully charge all power banks and portable chargers
• GFCI outlets: Press test button to verify they trip properly

5. Stock Emergency Supplies

Gather essential items before stores are crowded or sold out:

• Generator fuel (if applicable) - store safely according to manufacturer recommendations
• Fresh batteries for flashlights, radios, and smoke detectors
• LED camping lanterns (safer than candles)
• Manual can opener
• Coolers and ice for food preservation
• Bottled water (1 gallon per person per day for 3-7 days)
• Non-perishable food
• First aid kit and necessary medications
• Cash (ATMs won't work during power outages)

6. Prepare Your Refrigerator and Freezer

Food safety during extended outages requires planning:

• Set refrigerator to coldest safe setting (32-34°F) and freezer to 0°F or below
• Freeze containers of water to create ice blocks—they keep food cold and provide drinking water as they melt
• Group food together in freezer—tightly packed food stays frozen longer
• Have coolers ready to transfer food if outage extends beyond safe storage times
• Keep refrigerator and freezer thermometers to monitor safe temperatures

24-48 Hours Before Storm Arrival

7. Protect Your Electronics and Appliances

Power surges during and after storms can destroy electronics:

• Unplug sensitive electronics: Computers, televisions, home theater systems, game consoles, internet routers, cable modems
• Unplug major appliances: Washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, microwave ovens
• Lower water heater temperature: Reduces risk if power is out for extended periods
• Keep refrigerator and freezer plugged in: But don't open doors unnecessarily
• Turn off air conditioners: Prevents damage from power surges when power is restored

Why unplug? Surge protector power strips provide limited protection. During severe storms, lightning strikes and power grid fluctuations can send surges that overwhelm plug-in surge protectors. The only way to provide 100% protection is unplugging equipment.

8. Charge All Devices

Before power goes out, fully charge:

• Cell phones and tablets
• Laptop computers
• Portable battery chargers/power banks
• Rechargeable flashlights and lanterns
• Battery backup for medical equipment
• Electric vehicle (if applicable)

9. Fill Bathtubs with Water

If your home uses a well pump, you'll lose water when power goes out. Even municipal water systems sometimes fail during extended outages. Fill bathtubs and large containers with water for flushing toilets, washing, and other non-drinking uses.

During the Storm and Power Outage

10. Safety First

Follow these critical safety rules during power outages:

• Never touch downed power lines—assume ALL downed lines are energized and deadly. Stay at least 35 feet away and call your utility company immediately
• Avoid standing water near electrical equipment—flooded basements with electrical panels or outlets present electrocution hazards
• Use flashlights, not candles—candles cause numerous house fires during power outages
• Keep refrigerator and freezer closed—a full freezer will keep food frozen for 48 hours if unopened; refrigerator stays cold for 4 hours
• Never use gas stoves or ovens for heating—carbon monoxide poisoning risk
• Check on elderly neighbors—power outages are particularly dangerous for seniors and people with medical needs

11. Monitor Food Safety

The USDA provides clear guidelines for food safety during power outages:

• Refrigerator: Food is safe for 4 hours if door remains closed
• Full freezer: Food stays frozen for 48 hours if door remains closed
• Half-full freezer: Food stays frozen for 24 hours
• Rule of thumb: When in doubt, throw it out—foodborne illness is not worth the risk

12. Generator Operation (If You Have One)

Safe generator operation requires following strict safety protocols:

• Location: Operate at least 20 feet from home, downwind from windows and doors
• Carbon monoxide detectors: Verify they're working—generator exhaust is deadly
• Fuel storage: Never store gasoline inside home or attached garage
• Refueling: Always shut off generator and let it cool before refueling
• Electrical connection: Use only through properly installed transfer switch
• Load management: Don't overload generator—calculate wattage requirements
• Regular breaks: Follow manufacturer recommendations for runtime and rest periods

After Power Is Restored

13. Don't Rush to Plug Everything In

When power returns, resist the urge to immediately plug everything back in:

• Wait 10-15 minutes after power restoration before reconnecting appliances
• Turn on lights and small appliances first
• Stagger turning on major appliances (wait 10-15 minutes between each)
• This prevents overloading the electrical system during the surge of everyone powering up simultaneously

14. Inspect for Damage

Before resuming normal electrical use, check for problems:

• Look for signs of water intrusion in electrical panel
• Check for burning smells or discolored outlets
• Test GFCI outlets to ensure they still function properly
• Verify smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are working
• If you experienced flooding, have a licensed electrician inspect all electrical systems before restoring power

15. Check Food Safety

Determine what food is still safe:

• If food in freezer still contains ice crystals or is 40°F or below, it's safe to refreeze
• Discard refrigerated perishables (meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, leftovers) if power was out more than 4 hours
• When in doubt, throw it out—foodborne illness can be life-threatening

Special Considerations for Medical Equipment

If anyone in your household depends on electrically powered medical equipment, additional planning is essential:

• Register with your electric utility company as a priority customer for restoration
• Have backup power sources (generator or battery backup) professionally installed
• Maintain emergency battery backup for critical equipment
• Keep emergency contact numbers readily accessible
• Have evacuation plans if backup power fails
• Work with healthcare providers to develop comprehensive emergency plans

Post-Storm Electrical System Assessment

After major storms, even if you didn't experience direct damage, it's wise to have your electrical system inspected by a licensed electrician. Storm-related power fluctuations, brief outages, and surges can cause hidden damage that appears days or weeks later as equipment failures.

Schedule post-storm inspection if you experienced:

• Multiple power surges or outages
• Lightning strikes near your property
• Any water intrusion near electrical equipment
• Burning smells or unusual electrical behavior
• Damage to utility lines or service entrance

Be Prepared, Stay Safe

Power outages from severe weather are inevitable for homeowners in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. While we can't prevent storms, we can minimize their impact through preparation. Taking steps now to protect your electrical system, secure backup power, and prepare emergency supplies means you'll weather the next storm safely and comfortably.

Don't wait until weather forecasts are predicting the next big storm. Start preparing today—your future self will thank you when the lights go out and you're ready.