Guide Electricity

Power outage: what to do in the first hours and days

Without electricity it is not just the lights that go out: heating, water pumps, card terminals, ATMs and mobile networks may stop working too. The longer it lasts, the more it matters to be prepared.

Prepared by the InCaseMap team Updated

In short: when the power goes out, turn on a battery-powered radio and listen to LRT. Unplug sensitive electrical appliances, save your phone battery, keep the fridge and freezer closed. Never use a generator, gas stove or grill indoors — there is a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Keep a water supply: in apartment blocks the water supply may stop without electricity. Check water sources, pharmacies and LRT radio frequencies in advance on the InCaseMap map — it works offline too.

Power cut: what to do

  1. Unplug electrical appliances from the sockets.
  2. Report the fault to ESO on the free number 1852.
  3. Broken wire – do not touch it, do not go closer than 8 metres, do not let people or livestock near it, report it on 1852.
  4. Connect a generator to the home’s electricity network only through a fixed connection installed by specialists.
  5. When keeping warm, do not use home-made electric heaters, do not plug several appliances into one socket, do not leave them switched on unattended.

In advance

If you learn of a possible power outage – cook food, charge your phone, have candles, a torch, a radio and spare batteries. If heavy rain or a flood is forecast – switch off the main circuit breakers at the supply point.

What not to do

  • Do not touch trees or poles that have fallen on wires.
  • Do not lend electricity from your generator to neighbours.
  • Do not close the stove damper until the fire has stopped smouldering – carbon monoxide.

Other numbers

  • 1852 — Power faults (ESO)

Based on: Energijos skirstymo operatorius (ESO), Lithuanian grid operator, Fire and Rescue Department of Lithuania (PAGD). Translated from the Lithuanian text that InCaseMap checked against the sources on 5 October 2026.

The first minutes

  1. Check whether the power is out only in your flat or building: look at your neighbours' windows and the street lights.
  2. Turn on a battery-powered radio and listen to LRT: you will find out whether the outage is widespread and how long it may last.
  3. Unplug computers, the TV and other sensitive devices — a power surge is possible when the electricity comes back.
  4. Leave one light switched on so you can see when the power returns.

Phone and connectivity

  • Mobile networks may only work for a limited time without electricity — call only when necessary.
  • Save battery: battery saver mode, lower screen brightness, unnecessary apps closed.
  • You can charge your phone from a power bank or in a car.
  • The InCaseMap map works without internet too: you will see water points, hospitals and ATMs. How to prepare →

Water and food

  • In apartment blocks, water pumps may stop without electricity. Keep 2–⁠3 litres of water per person per day.
  • You will find water points on the InCaseMap map. Taps, wells and springs on it: 10,616.
  • Keep the fridge and freezer closed: a closed fridge keeps food cold for about 4 hours, a full freezer for about one to two days.
  • Eat the most perishable food first, then tinned and dry food.

Heat and light

  • In cold weather, dress in layers, stay in one room and draw the curtains.
  • Use flashlights for light. Candles only when supervised and away from curtains.
  • Look in on elderly neighbours and people who need electricity for medical devices.

Dangers: carbon monoxide and fire

Never use a generator, gas stove, grill or gas heater indoors, in a garage or on a balcony near a window. They give off carbon monoxide — a colourless, odourless gas that can poison you fatally. Headache, dizziness or nausea can be signs of poisoning: get into fresh air and call 112.

When the power comes back

  1. Switch appliances on one at a time, not all at once.
  2. Check the food in the fridge: if it has been warm for a long time, do not take the risk.
  3. Restock your supplies: water, batteries, cash, and recharge your power banks.

Frequently asked questions

How long does food stay safe in the fridge without power?

A closed fridge keeps food cold for about 4 hours, a full freezer for about one to two days. The less often you open it, the longer it stays cold.

Can I keep a generator on the balcony?

Not if there are windows or doors nearby: the exhaust fumes get inside. A generator must stand outdoors, away from windows, doors and air vents.

Will ATMs and cards work?

During a power or network outage, card terminals and ATMs may not work. That is why it is worth keeping some cash at home.

Where can I find drinking water if the supply stops?

Use your own supplies first — 2–⁠3 litres per person per day. Public taps, wells and springs are on the InCaseMap map (10,616 in total). Whether the water is safe to drink is announced by the municipality and official sources.

Sources

This text summarises official guidance and does not replace instructions from the authorities. During an emergency, follow announcements from LRT and the authorities.

You may freely use this text and its data, commercially too — just add a link: <a href="https://incasemap.com/en/power-outage">InCaseMap</a> (more)

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