St. Louis averages some of the most severe storm activity in the Midwest. Tornadoes, ice storms, and derechos regularly knock out power for thousands of Ameren Missouri customers. Here's what to do when the lights go out — and how to protect your home.

Step 1: Check If It's Just Your Home

Before doing anything else, determine whether the outage is limited to your home or affects your neighbors. Look outside — are streetlights out? Do neighbors have power? If only your home is affected, the problem is likely your main breaker, meter, or a tripped GFCI outlet. Check your panel first.

Step 2: Check Your Panel

Go to your electrical panel and look for any breakers that have tripped to the middle position (between ON and OFF). Reset them by flipping fully OFF, then back ON. If a breaker immediately trips again, there's an underlying issue — call an electrician.

Also check any GFCI outlets (the ones with the TEST/RESET buttons) in your bathrooms, kitchen, garage, and exterior. A tripped GFCI can cut power to multiple outlets in your home.

Step 3: Report to Ameren Missouri

If the outage affects your neighborhood, report it to Ameren Missouri:

  • Call: 1-800-552-7583
  • Text: Text OUT to 27536
  • App: Ameren Missouri mobile app
  • Online: ameren.com/outage

Reporting helps Ameren prioritize restoration and gives you an estimated restore time.

⚠️ Safety first: Never touch downed power lines — even if they appear dead. Call Ameren and 911 immediately if you see a downed line.

Step 4: Protect Your Appliances

When power returns after an outage, there's often a brief voltage surge. To protect sensitive electronics:

  • Unplug TVs, computers, and gaming systems during the outage
  • Use surge protectors for electronics — not just power strips
  • Wait a few minutes after power returns before plugging back in

Step 5: Food Safety

A full refrigerator stays safe for about 4 hours if kept closed. A full freezer stays safe for 24 to 48 hours. When in doubt — throw it out. The USDA food safety hotline is 1-888-674-6854.

Generator Safety If You Have One

If you're using a portable generator:

  • NEVER run it inside your home, garage, or any enclosed space — carbon monoxide kills
  • Keep it at least 20 feet from windows and doors
  • Use a transfer switch — never plug directly into a wall outlet (back-feeding)

The Permanent Solution: Standby Generator

If outages in your area are frequent or last more than a few hours, a whole-house standby generator is worth serious consideration. Unlike portable generators, a standby generator:

  • Turns on automatically within seconds — you don't even have to be home
  • Runs on natural gas — no refueling
  • Powers your entire home including AC, refrigerator, and medical equipment

We install Generac and Kohler standby generators throughout the St. Louis metro. Call (314) 408-5647 for a free generator consultation.

When to Call an Electrician

Call an electrician — not Ameren — if:

  • Only your home lost power and neighbors have power
  • A breaker keeps tripping after being reset
  • You smell burning or see scorching near your panel
  • Power is restored but some circuits in your home aren't working
  • Your meter socket or weatherhead was damaged in a storm

We offer 24/7 emergency electrical service throughout St. Louis. Call (314) 408-5647 any time.