Set up weather alerts, emergency alerts and utility outage notifications in Canada and the US, and know how to report a power outage.
Key takeaways
- Turn on phone emergency alerts and sign up for your utility's text alerts.
- Report outages and downed lines, and call 911 for danger.
- Keep a battery or crank radio as a backup.
Tip: set these up now, while you have power and signal. During an outage, networks and apps can be slow.
Weather and emergency alerts
- Alert Ready: Canada's emergency alert system sends alerts to compatible phones, TV and radio.
- Environment and Climate Change Canada: weather warnings and forecasts by location.
- Check your province or city for a local alert sign-up.
- National Weather Service: forecasts and warnings for your zip code.
- Wireless Emergency Alerts are sent to compatible phones by authorities. Keep them enabled.
- Sign up for your county or city alert system. Search your county name plus "emergency alerts".
- The FEMA app can send weather alerts for chosen locations.
Utility outage notifications
- Find your utility's name on your bill and search for its outage map and text alert sign-up.
- Save the outage phone number in your phone and on your kit sheet.
- Ask whether your utility keeps a list of customers who rely on powered medical equipment.
Track outages
See our live outage maps hub. In the US, PowerOutage.us shows outage counts by state and offers free alerts for an address, county or state.
How to report an outage
- Check your breaker and whether neighbours have power.
- Check your utility's map.
- Report it by app, web form or phone. Have your address and account number ready.
- For downed lines, fire or injury, call 911 first and stay back.
Expert tipKeep a battery or hand-crank radio with the weather band as a backup if phones and networks fail.
Quick answers
Where do I find my utility's outage map?
Search your utility name from your bill plus outage map, or use our outage map page.
Should I report an outage if I think others did?
Yes. Reports help utilities locate problems, and your address may not be covered.
Keep reading
Related10 step planThe whole plan on one page.Read next →RelatedEmergency radiosCrank, solar and weather band.Read next →RelatedHurricane checklistBefore, during and after.Read next →RelatedGrid Warnings and Blackout Risk: What the News SaysA plain-language roundup of this autumn's grid warnings and emergency orders, what they mean for your home, and three moves to finish this week.Read next →RelatedHow to Tell If a Power Outage Is Just Your HomeIs it the whole area or just you? Quick checks with neighbours, your breaker panel and the utility outage map, and how to report it.Read next →RelatedDowned Power Lines: What to Do and How to Stay SafeIf you see a downed power line, stay far back, warn others and call your utility and emergency services. Here is what official guidance says.Read next →