This fall, Hurricane Helene left more than 4.5 million people without power in several states, followed by Hurricane Milton, which left millions of Floridians without power.

The South is the region in the United States most prone to power outages, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. But no region of the country is safe from power cuts. These could include hurricanes along the Gulf or Atlantic coasts, snow and ice storms in the Northeast and Midwest, or heat waves in the West. And while bad weather is a big factor in power outages, it’s not the only thing that can knock out the lights. Whether it’s a software glitch or a cyberattack, anything can cause a power outage.

We looked at data collected by the EIA to calculate the number of power outages the average customer in each state has experienced in recent years. No matter how many outages your state experiences, it’s worth considering ways to prepare.

Which states experience the most power outages?

The map below shows the average number of power outages by 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 incident in the middle of the night, but a multi-day power outage due to a major storm could have serious consequences. Outside of major events, the EIA reports that the average duration of an outage is approximately 2 hours. These are the big events that require the most preparation.

How to Prepare for a Power Outage

For weather-related outages, preparing for a power outage is only part of storm preparation. This involves charging your phone and other important gadgets before the risk arrives and packing an emergency bag. If you have a power bank, make sure it is charged before you need it.

You can keep some of your small appliances and appliances on with a portable power station. These large batteries have multiple outlets and can do 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, which is essential if you want to avoid throwing out old food or need to keep medications cold.

But you don’t need to depend on how much charge your portable power station had before the grid outage. Add portable solar panels and you have a complete solar generator, capable of charging during the day and lasting much longer. Just be prepared to wait a bit for a refill.

Do solar panels prevent power outages?

A bigger and more expensive option to avoid power outages is to get solar panels and a home battery. Although each of these components can cost tens of thousands of dollars, they are eligible for a 30% federal tax credit and can pay for themselves over the years through their daily benefits.

It is important to understand that solar panels alone will not keep your home powered in the event of a grid outage. You need somewhere to store the energy that your home can draw power from, i.e. a large home battery. This could include a dedicated solar battery like a Tesla Powerwall or a more portable system connected to your home’s electrical system, like the Bluetti EP900 or the EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra.