Preparing for an Outage

Preparing for planned and unplanned outages can go a long way to keep you and your family safe and comfortable or protect your business in the event of an outage.

If anyone in your home relies on electrically powered medical equipment, you may qualify for our Life Support program. Apply today!

Five Ways to Prepare for an Outage

  1. Have an outage kit ready. Make a kit with enough water, nonperishable food, flashlights, and blankets for at least 7 days to be safe. A list of items to include in your Outage Kit.
  2. Make a plan.
    • Know what you will do to keep you and your family warm/cool.
    • Know where you can go that might have power nearby.
    • Plan for where you will meet your loved ones if not together and what you will do for meals.
    • Identify a contact that lives out of the area who can act as a point of contact.
    • Talk to your medical provider and develop a plan for medical devices or refrigerated medications in case of an outage.
    • Alert your alarm company prior to the outage. Contact your veterinarian if your pets require special care.
    • Know how to override your electric garage door and how to exit an electrically secured building.
  3. Think about back up power.
    • If you have a generator, understand how to operate it safely.
    • Keep batteries and alternative power sources nearby.
    • Install carbon monoxide detectors in your home and have battery backups for each.
    • Keep cell phones charged and gas tanks full.
    • If you have a landline phone, make sure you have enough battery backup to sustain an outage.
  4. Carry cash. Make sure you always have cash on hand, as ATMs or credit card machines may not work in an outage. Having cash will ensure you can purchase something in a pinch.
  5. Get informed.

How Outages Happen and How They are Restored

Ever wondered why your power is out and your neighbors, blocks away still have power? Want to better understand all the ways in which power can be disrupted? Learn more about how the power system works and what happens in an outage.

City Light

Debra Smith, General Manager and CEO
Address: 700 5th Ave, Seattle, WA, 98104
Mailing Address: PO Box 34023, Seattle, WA, 98124-4023
Phone: (206) 684-3000
SCL_ExternalComms@seattle.gov

Seattle City Light was created by the citizens of Seattle in 1902 to provide affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible electric power to the City of Seattle and neighboring suburbs.