Short answer
Before storm season, test GFCIs, know your main breaker location, and prep backup power safely. After the storm, inspect for damage before restoring power.
Before the storm: the electrical checklist
Storm season is the time to make sure your electrical system is ready for the worst. Test every GFCI outlet (press TEST, confirm it trips, press RESET), check that outdoor outlets have intact weatherproof covers, and make sure your surge protection — whole-home and point-of-use — is in place and its indicator lights show it is working.
Outside, look up: tree limbs hanging over your service drop (the wires from the pole to your house) can bring lines down in high wind. Limb trimming near service lines is typically the utility's responsibility — call them rather than doing it yourself. Inside, know exactly where your main breaker is and how to operate it, and make sure everyone in the household old enough to act knows too.
- Test all GFCI outlets; confirm weatherproof outdoor covers.
- Verify surge protectors are installed and indicating normally.
- Report tree limbs threatening service lines to the utility.
- Know your main breaker location and how to shut it off.
- Charge phones, backup batteries, and flashlights — not candles.
- Unplug sensitive electronics if a severe storm is imminent.
Generators: the safety rules that matter
Portable generators save the day during outages — and kill people every storm season when misused. The iron rules: never run a generator indoors, in a garage, or near windows — carbon monoxide is odorless and lethal. Never backfeed by plugging a generator into a wall outlet; it energizes lines utility workers believe are dead. Use a properly installed transfer switch, which is electrician-installed work.
Let the generator cool before refueling, keep fuel stored safely away from the house, and never overload it — know its rated wattage and prioritize essentials.
During the outage
When the power goes out, turn off or unplug major appliances and electronics — this protects them from the surge when power returns and reduces the load that hits the system all at once. Leave one lamp on so you know when power is restored. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed; food safety, not the electrical system, is the main concern here.
Use flashlights rather than candles — every storm season brings house fires started by candles during outages. If you must leave the house, consider switching off the main breaker so the return of power does not energize anything unexpected in your absence.
After the storm: inspect before you restore
Before flipping everything back on, look for damage: downed lines (stay far away and call the utility — never touch or drive over them), a damaged meter box or service mast, water in the panel or outlets, and scorch marks or burning smells. If your home flooded, do not restore power to affected areas until a licensed electrician has inspected the system — water and electricity are a lethal combination, and flooded wiring, outlets, and panels may need replacement.
Restore power gradually: main breaker on first, then branch circuits one at a time, watching for anything unusual. If a breaker trips on restore, leave it off and have it checked.
When to call an electrician after a storm
Call a licensed electrician if you see a damaged service mast or meter box, water got into the panel or any outlets, breakers trip when power is restored, you smell burning, or any wiring was exposed to floodwater. Storm damage to the service entrance is common and always professional work — and if your panel took water, assume components need evaluation before the system is trusted again.