General Knowledge
Survive a Power Outage Quiz
Texas 2021, Hurricane Ian, polar vortex — when the grid goes dark
Texas 2021, Hurricane Ian, polar vortex — when the grid goes dark
More people died from carbon monoxide poisoning during Texas's 2021 blackout than from the cold itself — 11 confirmed deaths in 5 days. Whether it's a hurricane, an ice storm, or a heat-driven grid failure, knowing how to ride out a multi-day outage safely can make the difference between an inconvenience and a tragedy. This quiz covers generators, food safety, water storage, medical needs, and the real history of the world's worst blackouts.
Each round presents 10 randomized questions from a pool of 50, with four multiple-choice options and instant feedback after every answer. Your final score comes with a performance tier and shareable results.
You'll learn safe generator operation, fridge and freezer food-safety windows, the 2021 Texas grid collapse, the 2003 Northeast blackout, the 20-foot rule for generator placement, water storage rules of thumb, medical-equipment registries, and how the ERCOT, Eastern, and Western Interconnections actually work.
A closed refrigerator keeps food safe for about 4 hours. A full freezer holds temperature for around 48 hours, while a half-full freezer lasts about 24 hours — but only if you keep the doors shut.
Portable generators emit colorless, odorless carbon monoxide. The CDC recommends keeping them at least 20 feet from any home, with the exhaust pointed away — never in a garage, basement, or near windows.
Winter Storm Uri overwhelmed the ERCOT grid in February 2021, leaving roughly 4.5 million Texas customers without power for days. Estimates put the death toll near 700, including hypothermia, carbon monoxide poisoning, and medical-equipment failures.
Last updated: May 2026