OZ FIELD GUIDE / 01 / UTILITIES
Power outage
Protect people, preserve essentials, and avoid the hidden hazards of a blackout.
THE QUICK ANSWER
Check the utility and local alerts, then deal with immediate medical, temperature, and water needs. Use battery light and conserve phone power. Run generators and other fuel-burning equipment outdoors, away from windows and vents; never use an oven or grill to heat a home.
In immediate danger, contact local emergency services. Current instructions for your location take priority.
01 / DO NOW
First moves.
- 01
Check the situation
Find the outage map and local emergency alerts. If someone depends on powered medical equipment, use the backup plan and seek urgent help if that equipment cannot run.
- 02
Make the space safe
Use flashlights rather than candles. Keep refrigerators and freezers closed. Unplug sensitive electronics if power is unstable, and leave one light on to show when service returns.
- 03
Keep air safe
A generator, camp stove, grill, or vehicle can produce deadly carbon monoxide. Keep fuel-burning equipment outside and well away from openings; use a battery-powered CO alarm if available.
- 04
Check your people
Contact neighbors who may need help. Conserve phone power, use text when calls are congested, and monitor official updates.
02 / NEXT
When the first minute is over.
If the outage continues, plan for safe temperature, water, medication refrigeration, and a place to relocate if the home becomes unsafe. Check current food-safety advice before eating perishables after a prolonged outage.
03 / WATCH FOR
The exception that matters.
Headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, or confusion near fuel-burning equipment can signal carbon monoxide exposure. Get into fresh air and call emergency services. Never enter a flooded area to operate electrical equipment.
04 / VERIFY
Sources & context.
Osprey Zero wrote this guide from the references below. It is a general starting point, not a live alert. Check the issuing authority for your area; guidance and conditions can change.
Guide updated 02 October 2026. U.S.-based references unless noted; follow authorities where you are.