Erin Udell
Fort Collins Coloradoan
Jan. 16, 2026, 4:23 p.m. MT
Planned power shutoffs in Northern Colorado are a public safety measure in response to weather events like high winds.
Residents should prepare by setting refrigerators to their coldest settings, unplugging appliances and charging portable power banks.
Have a plan for medications that require refrigeration and keep a stocked first aid kit and emergency supplies.
Weather events — like high winds — have led to planned public safety power outages in Northern Colorado.
Shutoffs can last from hours to days, with power lines needing to be inspected for damage before power can be restored after a public safety shutdown, according to past Coloradoan reporting.
If you’re facing a planned power shutdown, here are some tips to help you prepare yourself and your home courtesy of the Larimer County Office of Emergency Management:
How to prepare your home for a power shutoff
Set your fridge and freezer to their coldest settings if you know a shutoff is coming, and keep your fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Food can stay cold for up to four hours in a refrigerator and up to 48 hours in a freezer.
Turn off or unplug any electric appliances that could surge when power is restored.
Look into purchasing portable charging banks and stock up on batteries. Make sure power banks are charged ahead of the shutoff.
Make sure your generators, grills and outdoor stoves are functioning properly. Don’t operate these items indoors or in partially enclosed spaces.
Practice opening your garage door manually so you’re prepared when your power is shut off.
How to prepare yourself ahead of a power shutoff
While you still have power, look up and write down emergency numbers and critical contact information should you need that when you lose power.
Make sure your house has a stocked first aid kit.
Keep an emergency supply of medications you may need and make a plan for medications, like insulin, that require refrigeration.
Fully charge your phones and medical devices and ensure you have a backup power source, like charging banks, depending on how long the shutdown lasts.
Check in with your neighbors, especially those who are elderly or neighbors with disabilities.
Keep your pets in mind when you’re stocking up on supplies.
If you go more than four hours without power, make sure to throw away any refrigerated perishable foods like meat, fish, eggs and leftovers. Discard food that’s been exposed to temperatures of 40 degrees or higher for two hours or more. When it doubt, throw it out.
If your power is out for more than a day, discard any medication that should be refrigerated unless its label says otherwise.
Public facilities where you can charge your devices in and around Fort Collins
Fort Collins
Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St.
Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., No. 200
Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields St.
Loveland
Loveland Library, 300 N. Adams Ave.
Windsor
Windsor Community Recreation Center, 250 N. 11th St.
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