With a pop and a sizzle, you suddenly realise how much ambient noise all those household appliances really make. Within a few seconds you start wondering when the power will come back. A few seconds more and you realise it might not come back for a while.

Finally there comes the sad realisation that you’re the adult in this situation, and you might have to do something about it.

What to do next…

1. Check online for your power company’s power outage map

Thanks to mobile phones, you can make a quick check online for your power company’s power outage map. This will be able to tell you whether it’s the entire neighbourhood – or if there’s an issue with just your house – and how long they expect it to be until power comes back on. Updates to an electricity outage map can be pretty speedy, and you can also check their social media pages for up-to-the-minute updates.

2. Be sure to check your breaker

If it’s just your home, you might be able to quickly rectify the issue. If any of the switches are in the off position, flick them back on. If all of them are on, try switching them all off and back on again. Or, if there’s a main switch, try hitting that one. If it’s just your house and these options don’t work, give your power company a call.

3. Be safe and be wary of your surroundings

In most cases, power will be cut thanks to an issue that affects the whole neighbourhood. From a falling tree bringing down lines to an excavator breaking through important cables, there’s really no end to nature’s joy of messing with us – AKA, Murphy’s Law. So, head out of your house, stay at least 100 metres away from any fallen power lines and, if you can, pop over to your nearest neighbours to see if you can offer any help.

4. Don’t be tempted to light too many candles

As romantic as candles are, they can be dangerous. Leave the fridge and freezer closed, as they are fairly adept at retaining their cold temperature for a good few hours, but opening and closing the doors won’t do your frozen goods any good (although we understand if you want to take this handy excuse to demolish that tub of ice cream).

5. Try to turn off any electrical appliances that were switched on

This includes lights, TVs, and heating or cooling systems and can help protect appliances from a power surge when everything comes back on – just leave one light on so you know when it all returns to normal.

6. Be prepared – create a check-list for the next time a power outage happens

As you sit in the dark, make a list of all the things you’d like for next time. For example, spare battery packs for your phone can ensure you can view power outage information for longer. Headlamps can help you check the fuse box, and battery-powered lamps can help keep the bogey monsters away.

7. Hire a professional

You might even consider investing in a spare generator or asking for advice from a pro. Yellow has a huge range of electricians ready to give you a quote.