Guide

Storms, power outages and an empty house on Martha's Vineyard

Last reviewed October 15, 2026

When the power goes out in winter, a house with people in it has someone to notice the cold. An empty house does not. This guide covers what an outage does to a closed house on Martha's Vineyard and what to arrange before storm season, before a storm and after it.

What the February 2026 blizzard showed

The blizzard of February 23, 2026 is the most recent example. At the storm's peak about 56 percent of island Eversource customers were without power, and more than 90 percent of Oak Bluffs lost power at one point. The National Weather Service had predicted gusts as high as 75 mph, the Steamship Authority kept its ferries docked, and Eversource estimated it could take three to five days to restore power [1].

The Martha's Vineyard Times reported that about 10,000 people on the island had no power or heat at the peak. Hurricane-force winds reached 80 mph in some areas, and line crews could not go up in bucket trucks in winds above 35 mph. The governor's office issued a travel ban for Dukes County at about 6 pm on Monday and lifted it by noon the next day. In the paper's figures as of February 25, outages in each of the six island towns were down to 5 percent of customers or fewer [2].

Storms also come outside winter. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 [3], so a late-season storm can arrive while houses are being closed for the year.

What happens to an empty house when the power fails

The heat usually stops first. A boiler, furnace or heat pump that relies on electric controls, pumps or fans shuts down with the power, even with a full tank of fuel. Ask your heating company whether yours does, and whether it can run from a generator.

As the house cools, pipes in the coldest spots are at risk. The Red Cross lists pipes against exterior walls and where the water service enters the house as likely places to freeze [4]. In 2024, non-flood water losses and freezing damage made up 48.6 percent of homeowners insurance claims in Massachusetts [5].

An electric sump pump stops too, unless it has a battery backup or a generator behind it, so a basement can take on water in a thaw or a heavy rain. Leak sensors and smart thermostats that report over the house Wi-Fi go quiet when the router loses power, which means the alerts you were counting on may not arrive. Food in the refrigerator stays cold for about four hours and a full freezer for about 48 hours [6]. When the power returns, it can come back with surges that damage equipment [7].

Before storm season

• Have a standby generator serviced by a licensed electrician or the generator dealer, and confirm its fuel supply.
• Make sure any generator connects through a transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician. Connecting a generator to the house wiring without one can electrocute utility workers [8].
• A portable generator runs outdoors only, facing away from doors, windows and vents, and never in a garage [8]. Fit working carbon monoxide alarms on every level of the house [8].
• Consider low-temperature and water-leak sensors or a smart thermostat, so you hear about a problem early [9]. Ask the installer how each device behaves when the power or internet goes out, and whether a battery backup for the router would help.
• Sign up for outage alerts from Eversource and for your town's emergency notifications [6].
• Keep a list of emergency contacts: plumber, electrician, heating company, fuel supplier, insurer's claims line and Eversource.
• Arrange a key holder on the island who can reach the house after a storm and let in a plumber or electrician.
• Photograph or film every room and the outside of the house, and store the files away from the house [10].
• Have dead or broken branches over the house cut back [11], and make sure there is enough heating fuel for the season [6].
• Read your policy for what it covers and excludes and what your deductibles are [12]. Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage [13], so ask your agent about flood coverage if the house is near the water.

When a storm is forecast

The National Weather Service office in Boston/Norton (weather.gov/box) issues the forecasts, watches and warnings for Dukes County [14] [15]. Eversource's outage map shows outages for eastern Massachusetts, and its outage line for this area is (800) 592-2000 [16] [17].

• Have someone bring in or secure outdoor furniture, grills and anything else wind could carry.
• Close storm shutters if the house has them, and check that gutters, downspouts and outside drains are clear.
• Check that the generator has fuel and is set to start on its own, if it is a standby unit.
• Unplug electronics that do not need to stay on, to protect them from surges when the power returns [6].
• Agree on who will check the house after the storm and when. Travel can be banned during a storm, as it was in Dukes County in February 2026 [2], so the first visit may have to wait until it is safe.

After the storm

Outside first

• Walk around the house before going in. Look for trees or limbs on the roof, broken windows, lifted shingles and standing water.
• Stay away from downed wires and assume every downed line is live. Call 911 to report downed lines, and call Eversource, not 911, to report an outage [6].
• If you smell gas, do not go in. If you are already inside, leave right away and call 911 once you are outside, without turning lights or appliances on or off [18].

Inside

• Check that the heat is running and note the indoor temperature.
• Look for water on floors and ceilings, under sinks, in the basement and around the sump pit.
• Do not use anything electrical that got wet [19]. Have a licensed electrician check it first.
• Throw out refrigerated food that sat above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for more than two hours [6].
• Dry wet areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold [20].

Insurance and repairs

• Take photos or video of the damage before any temporary repairs [12].
• Call your agent or the claims line as soon as possible. Your policy may require notice within a set time [12].
• Make temporary repairs to stop further damage and keep every receipt. Do not make permanent repairs before the insurer inspects, or the claim may be denied [12].
• Keep damaged belongings for the adjuster to see, and keep a record of every call and letter [12].
• Use licensed trades. In Massachusetts, plumbing work in your home is done by a licensed plumber with permits from the local inspector [21], and electrical work by a licensed electrician [22].
• For questions about a claim, the Division of Insurance's Consumer Services Unit is at 617-521-7794 [5].

Sources

1. Haley Sandlow, Thousands Without Power as Storm Whacks the Vineyard, Vineyard Gazette, February 23, 2026.
2. Hayley Duffy, Blizzard buries Island, The Martha's Vineyard Times, February 26, 2026.
3. NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Climatology.
4. American Red Cross, Preventing and Thawing Frozen Pipes.
5. Massachusetts Division of Insurance, Massachusetts Cold Snap: Don't Let Frozen Pipes Become Your Next Insurance Claim, January 21, 2026.
6. Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, Power Outage Safety Tips.
7. Ready.gov (FEMA), Power Outages, updated June 4, 2026.
8. Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, Generator safety.
9. State Farm, How to protect your home while south for winter vacation, October 12, 2026.
10. National Association of Insurance Commissioners, What You Need to Know When Filing a Homeowners Claim, April 20, 2022.
11. Massachusetts Division of Insurance, The Massachusetts Division of Insurance Encourages Homeowners to Protect their Home from Winter Weather, February 20, 2025.
12. Massachusetts Division of Insurance, Consumer Alert: Making the Claims Process Easier.
13. FEMA National Flood Insurance Program, FloodSmart.
14. National Weather Service, Weather Forecast Office Boston/Norton, MA.
15. National Weather Service, county zone record for Dukes County, MA (MAC007), which lists Boston/Norton (BOX) as the responsible office.
16. Eversource, Outage Map.
17. Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, Power outages.
18. Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, What to do if you smell gas.
19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Returning Home After a Flood, reviewed August 26, 2026.
20. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home.
21. Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters, Plumbers and gas fitters consumer fact sheet.
22. Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians, Electricians consumer fact sheet.