What should you actually do during a power outage at home?

With storm-related power outages trending in a few different states, what's the real checklist for handling one safely, especially if it lasts a while?

First, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible — a full freezer stays safely cold for about 48 hours, a fridge for about 4 hours, and every time you open the door, you cut that window shorter. Never use a generator, charcoal grill, or camp stove indoors or in an attached garage, even with doors/windows open — this is one of the most common causes of carbon monoxide poisoning during outages, and it kills people every year; generators need to run outdoors, well away from windows and doors. If you use candles for light, never leave them unattended, and consider battery-powered or hand-crank lights instead, especially with kids or pets around. Unplug sensitive electronics (or use surge protectors) to protect them from a possible power surge when electricity is restored. If anyone in your home relies on electricity-dependent medical equipment, it's worth having a backup plan (a portable battery, or knowing the nearest location with power) worked out before an outage happens, not during one. And if you smell gas at any point, don't turn on lights or use anything that could spark — leave the house and call your gas utility from somewhere safe outside.