This fall, Hurricane Helene knocked out electricity for more than 4.5 million people across several states, and Hurricane Milton followed by leaving millions of Floridians without power.
The South is the region of the US most prone to power outages, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration. But no part of the country is immune to blackouts. It could be hurricanes along the Gulf or Atlantic coasts, snow and ice storms in the Northeast and Midwest, or heat waves out west. And while bad weather is a big driver of power outages, it isn't the only thing that can knock out the lights. Anything from a software glitch to a cyberattack can cause a blackout.
We took a look at data collected by the EIA to calculate how many power outages the average customer in each state has faced in recent years. Regardless of how many outages your state experiences, it's worth considering ways to be prepared.
Which states get the most power outages?
The map below shows the average number of power outages per state per year, and the average total duration of all outages per year, using all reporting methods, including IEEE standards, from 2018 to 2022, according to EIA data.
Of course, not all power outages are the same. You might not notice a 20-minute blip in the middle of the night, but losing power for days because of a major storm could have serious consequences. Outside of major events, the EIA reports the average duration of an outage is about 2 hours. It's those major events that require the most preparation.
Most power outages per year, 2018-2022
| State | Power outages per year |
|---|---|
| Maine | 2.9 |
| Alaska | 2.6 |
| West Virginia | 2.6 |
| Louisiana | 2.6 |
| Tennessee | 2.3 |
| Mississippi | 2.2 |
| Vermont | 2.2 |
| Texas | 2.0 |
| Arkansas | 1.9 |
| New Hampshire | 1.7 |
How to prepare for a power outage
For outages caused by weather, preparing for the power to go out is just part of prepping for the storm. That includes having your phone and other important gadgets charged before the risk arrives and having an emergency go bag ready. If you have a power bank, ensure that it's charged before you need it.
You can keep some of your smaller devices and appliances on with a portable power station. These large batteries come with multiple outlets, and can do way more than just charge your phone. Depending on its capacity, a portable power station should be able to run your refrigerator for hours or even days -- vital if you want to avoid throwing out old food or if you need to keep medication cold.
But you don't have to rely on whatever charge your portable power station had before the grid went down. Add in portable solar panels and you have a full-on solar generator, capable of recharging during the day and lasting far longer. Just be prepared to wait a bit for a recharge.
Do solar panels prevent power outages?
A bigger, more expensive option to prevent your power from going out is to get solar panels and a home battery. While each of those components can cost tens of thousands of dollars, they do qualify for a 30% federal tax credit and can pay for themselves over the years thanks to their daily benefits.
It's important to understand that solar panels alone won't help keep your home powered up when the grid goes down. You need a place to store energy that your home can draw power from, meaning a big home battery. That could include a dedicated solar battery like a Tesla Powerwall or a more portable system wired into your home's electrical system, like the Bluetti EP900 or the EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra.