1. 1Start with people, not the switchboardActivate the site outage procedure. Establish whether occupants can use safe exit routes and receive instructions. Use trained staff for accountability at designated locations; do not send them into dark or hazardous areas. Give responders the exact location of anyone needing assistance.
2. 2Build a critical-service pictureHave responsible staff report the status of emergency lighting, alarms, access-controlled doors, communications, elevators, water systems and essential operations. Record unknowns as unknowns. Backup power does not necessarily serve the whole building. Loss of a critical safety function requires escalation under the emergency plan, not an assumption that the generator has covered it.
3. 3Separate the utility problem from the building problemContact the utility and qualified electrical contractor as appropriate. Record ticket numbers and whether an estimated restoration time is confirmed or provisional. Do not repeatedly reset breakers to chase the outage. Leadership needs two answers: what operating conditions are available now, and what will trigger relocation or closure?
4. 4Control temporary arrangementsRoute temporary-power proposals through qualified personnel and site approval. Portable generators must never operate indoors; CDC warns that exhaust can enter through openings. Do not backfeed through an outlet. Track the purpose, responsible operator, fuel arrangements and restrictions for each approved temporary installation.
5. 5Treat restoration as a managed restartUtility power returning is the start of verification. Coordinate restart sequencing with the electrical and equipment specialists. Assign owners to confirm alarms, doors, lifts, controls and critical loads. Record faults that remain. Communicate which areas are released and which remain restricted; do not announce an all-clear solely because lights returned.

Adapt this example to confirmed facts and approved instructions. Replace every bracketed field before sending. Never issue an all-clear without the responsible authorization. The building is experiencing a power outage. Follow staff instructions and do not use elevators. [Affected area] is closed. The utility estimate is unconfirmed; our next operational decision is at [time].

• Outage start, utility reference and contractor contacts • System status, backup-power limitations and closure decisions • Restart checks, remaining faults and occupancy authorization

Before leaving or changing shifts, name the next responsible person, outstanding restrictions, expected contractor attendance and the next decision time. Confirm they received the handoff. Keep emergency work, temporary measures and permanent corrective work as separate tracked items so the visible symptom does not become the only thing that gets closed.

Free BuildingWrench downloads. The PDFs are in English.

References support the related safety notes; the management workflow is BuildingWrench editorial guidance, not an agency endorsement.

• Power Restoration & Critical-System Verification Checklist — English PDF
• Emergency Decision & Timeline Log — English PDF
• Building Closure & Reopening Authorization Checklist — English PDF
• CDC: Carbon monoxide and generator safety

• Promising a reopening time from an unconfirmed utility estimate
• Assuming every circuit has generator support
• Allowing occupants back before affected safety systems are checked