Your Before-the-Storm Checklist
Last verified: September 2026
The best time to prepare for an outage is the calm hours before the storm. A little work now — charge up, fill water, ready the fridge, fuel up, secure the yard — means you ride it out calm. Call (330) 200-8042.
Your Before-the-Storm Routine, at a Glance
The single best time to prepare for an outage is the calm hours before the storm arrives. This guide pulls together the 'before' steps from across the whole series into one clear checklist: charge everything, fill and freeze water, ready the fridge, fuel up, secure the outside, protect electronics, and know your shutoffs. Nearly all of it is far easier with the lights on, so work through it before the power can go out. There's a printable 29-page version up top.
Common Questions
1 What's the most important thing to do before a storm?
Charge everything and fill water while you still have power — and if you're on a well, fill all your water before the pump stops. Then ready the fridge, fuel up the car, and secure the yard. All of it is easier with the lights still on.
2 How far ahead should I prepare?
Season-long readiness — a kit, a family plan, tested backup power — should already be in place. When a storm is forecast, do the just-before steps over the day or two before it arrives, finishing before the power can go out.
3 What should I do with my fridge and freezer?
Turn them to their coldest settings so they start the outage as cold as possible, fill freezer space with frozen water jugs, and group food so you open the doors less. Cold to start is cold that lasts longer.
4 Should I unplug my electronics?
It's wise to unplug sensitive electronics or use good surge protectors, since power returning can bring a surge that damages them. Leave one light switched on so you'll know the moment power comes back.
5 What do I need to secure outside?
Bring in or tie down patio furniture, grills, trash cans, and anything the wind could pick up, park the car where a limb is less likely to fall on it, and bring outdoor pets and animals into shelter. Clear gutters so water can drain.
6 How do I know how much to prepare?
Let the forecast guide you: a passing thunderstorm needs a quick charge-and-secure, while a major ice storm needs the full list and a deeper reserve. A watch means get ready; a warning means act now.
Would You Rather I Just Help?
A good before-storm routine takes the panic out of a forecast, and I'm glad to help you build one that fits your home — the charging, the water, the fridge, and the yard. $99 flat for a visit, 30-day come-back-free.
Would you rather I just do this for you?
No shame in it — plenty of folks would rather hand it off, and that's what I'm here for. I'll come to your home, set it up right, and make sure it's working before I leave. Flat $99 per visit — no jargon, no upsell, and every visit is 30-day come-back-free.
Not a hardware job? I can often fix it remotely for $49 — a secure screen-share, up to 2 hours, that you watch the whole time and can end whenever (included free for $39/mo Support Plan members, and it counts toward the $99 if it turns out I need to come out).