Home preparedness

How to save outage and emergency numbers

After confirming each provider, save its official outage or emergency number, bookmark the outage map, and keep a non-digital copy with household emergency information.

Use confirmed provider contacts

An outage number is useful only when it belongs to the utility serving the property. Confirm the provider before saving the number.

  1. Electric outage phone and map.
  2. Water or sewer emergency line.
  3. Natural-gas emergency line when gas is present.
  4. City or county non-emergency contact.

Know which channel to use

Use 911 for immediate danger. Report utility outages, leaks, or service problems through the provider’s official emergency channel. Never investigate a suspected gas leak or downed power line yourself.

Keep information available during an outage

Store contacts on the phone and on paper. Keep devices charged, follow official public-safety instructions, and avoid relying on social-media posts for restoration estimates.

Official resources

Confirm details at the source.

Power Outages

Ready.gov · Checked July 29, 2026

Federal preparedness guidance for power outages and household safety.

Visit Ready.gov