Summer Thunderstorms and Power Outages: A Neighbor Check-In Plan

New England summers bring sudden afternoon thunderstorms, heavy downpours and the occasional strong wind event. Storms can bring down trees and power lines, and outages can last from minutes to days. In winter, an outage means cold; in summer, it means no fans, no air conditioning, spoiled food and, for some people, no power for medical equipment. A little preparation, and a neighborhood check-in plan, can keep everyone safer.

Before the Storm: Household Basics

Put together a simple outage kit now, before storm season peaks:

• Flashlights and extra batteries (avoid candles, which are a fire risk)
• A battery-powered or hand-crank radio
• Portable phone chargers or power banks, kept charged
• Bottled water, about one gallon per person per day for several days
• Shelf-stable food that needs no cooking
• A manual can opener
• First-aid supplies and a supply of any medications
• Battery-powered fans, if you can get them
• Cooler and ice packs
• Copies of important phone numbers on paper

Know How to Report and Track Outages

• Save your electric utility’s outage reporting number and website in your phone and on paper.
• Report outages directly to your utility; do not assume someone else already has.
• Sign up for your utility’s outage alerts, if available.
• Many utilities allow customers who depend on electricity for medical equipment to let the company know about that need. Check with your utility about how this works.

Thunderstorm Safety

A common safety saying is “When thunder roars, go indoors.” If you can hear thunder, lightning is close enough to be a danger. During a storm:

• Get inside a sturdy building or a hard-topped vehicle.
• Stay away from windows during high winds.
• Avoid using corded phones and plumbing during lightning, a common safety recommendation.
• Wait a while after the last thunder before going back outside.
• Never drive or walk through flooded streets. Water can be deeper and faster than it looks.

After the Storm: Stay Away From Wires

Downed power lines can be deadly. Always assume a fallen wire is live:

• Stay far away, and keep kids and pets away.
• Do not touch anything in contact with the wire, including trees, fences, cars or puddles.
• Call 911 and your electric utility to report it.
• If a wire falls on your car while you are inside, stay in the car unless there is a fire, and call for help.

Generator and Cooking Safety

Carbon monoxide poisoning is a serious risk during outages. To stay safe:

• Never run a generator, grill, camp stove or charcoal burner indoors, in a garage, in a basement or near open windows and doors.
• Place generators well away from the house, as the manufacturer directs.
• Install battery-operated carbon monoxide alarms and test them.
• If a CO alarm sounds or anyone feels dizzy, nauseated or confused, get everyone outside to fresh air and call 911.

Food Safety During an Outage

• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
• A full freezer generally stays cold longer than a half-full one.
• Use a cooler with ice for essentials if the outage lasts.
• When in doubt about perishable food that has been warm for a long time, throw it out.

Building a Neighbor Check-In Plan

Outages hit some people harder than others. Neighbors who may need extra attention include:

• Older adults, especially those living alone
• People who use electric medical equipment, such as oxygen concentrators or powered wheelchairs
• People who need refrigerated medication
• Families with infants
• People with limited mobility in upper-floor apartments where elevators may stop

To build a plan:

1. Invite neighbors to opt in to check-ins during outages. Never assume someone’s needs.
2. Collect contact information with permission, and keep it private.
3. Pair each person with a buddy and a backup.
4. Agree on a trigger: for example, any outage longer than one hour during hot weather.
5. Keep a paper copy of the contact list, since phones may die.

What to Ask During a Check-In

• “Are you okay? Do you have light and water?”
• “Is your home getting too hot?”
• “Do you have any medical equipment or medications that need power or refrigeration?”
• “Is your phone charged? Can I help charge it?”
• “Would you like to come somewhere cooler for a while?”

If someone relies on powered medical equipment and has lost power, help them follow their backup plan, contact their utility or health care provider, or call 911 if the situation is urgent.

Sharing Resources

• A neighbor with power or a working generator (used safely outdoors) might offer phone charging.
• Someone with a car can charge phones and offer rides to cooler places.
• Know how to check for cooling centers or warming and charging stations your city or town may open; check official websites or call 311 or Mass 211.

After Power Returns

• Check in once more with neighbors on your list.
• Restock your outage kit.
• Talk with your group about what worked and what to improve.
• Report any remaining hazards, like damaged trees or wires, to your city or utility.

A Quick Outage Prep Checklist

• Build an outage kit with lights, water, food and chargers.
• Save utility outage contacts.
• Install and test CO alarms.
• Create an opt-in neighbor check-in list.
• Keep a paper copy of key numbers.

Storms will come, but neighbors who are prepared and connected can weather them together.