University of Pittsburgh - Power Outage Guide
Take the right steps to stay safe during a power outage:
- If you don’t already have emergency supplies, make sure to acquire a flashlight with extra batteries, bottled water, glow sticks, hand-cranked radio, and blankets.
- Consider future planning—use FEMA’s emergency supply list as a guideline for items to have on hand for any emergency situation: https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2024-05/ready_supply-kit-checklist.pdf
- Make sure to restock emergency supplies that you’ve used.
- Get additional tips for handling a power outage at: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/ready/get-prepared/power-outages.html
- Use a portable charger to charge phones, medical devices and other necessary electronic devices, and keep a backup charged. If you need to charge devices, visit various buildings across campus (see listing below for locations and hours).
- Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed. An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours; a full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours. Throw away food that has been exposed to temperatures of 40°F for two hours or more. • If you are concerned about medications having spoiled, contact your doctor.
Stay up to date with hours of operation for on-campus resources:
- Visit our listing of building locations and hours, but please be aware that these may be subject to change at the end of the semester.
- Follow Pitt Eats for on-campus restaurant locations and hours; be aware that many locations will be closed after May 1: https://dineoncampus.com/pitt/hours-of-operation
Additional locations/resources:
- Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (Main): https://www.carnegielibrary.org/clp_location/main-oakland/
- Hillman Library will be closed May 1-7: if you are stranded without access to power, you can borrow a laptop, charging kits, adapters and more at the Donald S. Wood Service Desk (https://library.pitt.edu/borrowing-supplies-and-technology-hillman)
- Pitt Pantry: https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/care-and-resources/pitt-pantry
- The City of Pittsburgh has Recreation Centers open to the public for people to charge their devices at the following locations—check @citiparks and @city_pittsburgh on Instagram for hours (https://www.pittsburghpa.gov/Recreation-Events/Park-Facilities/Recreation-Centers):
- Brookline Rec Center (1400 Oakridge Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15226)
- Ammon Rec Center (2217 Bedford Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219)
- Jefferson Rec Center (605 Rednap Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212)
- Magee Rec Center (745 Greenfield Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217)
- West Penn Rec Center (450 30th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219)
- Warrington Rec Center (329 E. Warrington Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15210)
- Paulson Rec Center (1201 Paulson Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206)
- Ormsby Rec Center (79 South 22nd Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203)
Emergency Contact Numbers:
- University of Pitt Police Department: 412-624-2121 (safety.pitt.edu); non-emergency number: 412-624-4040
- Emergency Reporting 9-1-1
- Report a power outage to Duquesne Light Company: 888-393-7100 (https://duquesnelight.com/storm-home)
- Report a service outage to PWSA: 412-255-2423 (https://www.pgh2o.com/)
- Emergency Aid—American Red Cross: 412-263-3100 (https://www.redcross.org/local/pennsylvania/greater-pennsylvania.html)