Plan for Heat When Household Power Is Interrupted
Prepare a simple heat plan that identifies a cooler place, drinking water, and a person you can contact if your home becomes too warm.
Choose a cooler place before you need it
Start by listing nearby places where you could spend several hours if your home becomes uncomfortably hot: a trusted neighbor’s home, a relative’s home, or an open public cooling location. Confirm that the location is accessible to everyone in your household and consider how you would get there if elevators, transit, or a vehicle were unavailable. Write down its address, hours, and a backup choice. Do not assume a business or public building will be open during an outage; check its current status before traveling.
Pick a time or condition that will trigger your plan, such as an indoor temperature that feels unsafe, difficulty sleeping, or someone in the household feeling unwell. The right threshold depends on the person and circumstances. Infants, older adults, people with certain health conditions, and people taking some medications may need extra care. If symptoms seem serious, seek medical help rather than waiting for the house to cool.
Plan for water and communication
Set aside drinking water where everyone can find it, including anyone who may be staying in a different room. Keep cups or a bottle nearby and replenish supplies as they are used. If anyone depends on powered medical equipment, contact the care team or equipment provider in advance to discuss an outage plan; do not rely on a household power bank unless it is suitable for that equipment.
Choose one person outside the home as a check-in contact. Agree on a short message, a time to check in, and what to do if no reply arrives. Keep the contact’s number written on paper as well as in a phone. A charged phone is useful, but battery life is limited, so plan a charging option and conserve power by reducing screen use.
Make the plan usable
For example, a household might write: “If the living room stays hot after sunset, call Ana; if she cannot host us, go to the library only after confirming it is open; bring water, medications, and the phone charger.” This turns a vague intention into a sequence that can be followed under stress. Add transportation details, a meeting point, and any needs such as mobility assistance or pet arrangements.
Store the plan with emergency contacts where all household members can reach it. Review it before hot weather and after a move, a change in health, or a change in available transportation. Ready.gov recommends having alternative ways to charge a phone during a power outage; include a tested charging option and know where it is kept. A brief practice conversation can reveal missing keys, unclear directions, or a contact who needs updated information.
Sources & further reading
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