How to Prepare for a Winter Power Outage: Supplies, Heat and Safety

Quick answer: for a winter power outage, have water, non-perishable food, flashlights and batteries, warm layers and bedding, a battery or hand-crank radio, a power bank and a plan for medical needs. Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or gas oven indoors, and install battery-powered carbon monoxide alarms. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed: food stays cold for about 4 hours in the refrigerator and about 48 hours in a full freezer.

Winter outages are more dangerous than summer ones because the cold arrives fast and people reach for unsafe heat sources. The leading hazards are cold exposure, carbon monoxide poisoning and fires. This guide follows advice from Ready.gov, the CDC and the Consumer Product Safety Commission to help you prepare supplies, stay warm safely and use generators and heaters correctly.

Know the biggest risks first

• Carbon monoxide (CO): an odorless, colorless gas from generators, camp stoves, grills, lanterns and gas ranges. It can kill within minutes in enclosed spaces.
• Cold exposure: hypothermia can develop indoors if the temperature drops enough, especially for infants, older adults and people who are ill.
• Fire: candles, heaters and overloaded wiring cause fires during outages.
• Food and medicine spoilage: some medicines need to be kept cold.

Supplies and checklist

Water

Store at least one gallon per person per day for several days, plus extra for pets. See our guide to storing water. If pipes may freeze, our notes on keeping emergency water from freezing help with stored water.

Food

Keep non-perishable food that needs little or no cooking, and a manual can opener. Ready.gov says a refrigerator keeps food cold for about four hours if the door stays closed, and a full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours. Use a thermometer, and throw out food that has been at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or higher for two hours or more, or that looks, smells or feels unusual. When in doubt, throw it out.

Light

Use flashlights and battery-powered lanterns instead of candles, which are a fire risk. Keep spare batteries.

Medication and medical devices

Talk to your health provider about a plan for powered medical devices and refrigerated medicines. Ready.gov notes that if the power is out for more than a day, you should discard refrigerated medication unless the label says otherwise, and contact your doctor or pharmacist for a new supply.

Power banks and charging

Keep phones and power banks charged before a storm. Ready.gov suggests planning batteries and alternative power sources for the devices you rely on.

Gas in the car

Ready.gov suggests keeping at least a half tank of gas so you can leave or reach a warming center. Never run a vehicle in a closed garage.

Cash and documents

Keep some small bills, since card readers and ATMs may be down.

Alerts and information

A battery-powered or hand-crank radio with NOAA Weather Radio helps you follow updates. Check local officials about warming centers.

Carbon monoxide detectors

Install CO alarms with battery backup on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas, test them monthly and replace batteries as needed. If an alarm sounds or you feel dizzy, weak or sick, get outside and call 911.

How to stay warm without electricity

• Dress in layers, with a wicking base layer, insulating middle layers and a windproof outer layer, and wear a hat, gloves and warm socks.
• Close off rooms you do not need, and gather in one room with doors closed to hold heat.
• Cover windows with blankets or heavy curtains at night, and block drafts under doors with towels.
• Use sleeping bags and blankets, and share body heat if needed.
• Stay dry. Wet clothing and wind pull heat from the body quickly.
• Eat and drink regularly, since your body needs fuel and fluids to stay warm.
• If it gets dangerously cold, go to a warming center or a friend’s home. Ready.gov advises going to a community location with power if heat or cold is extreme.

Never use a gas stove or oven to heat your home. Ready.gov says it increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and also raises the risk of fires and burns.

Kerosene and other fuel-burning heaters

Fuel-burning space heaters release combustion products into your home and are a leading cause of fires and CO problems, so use them with great care. The CPSC advises using only water-clear 1-K grade kerosene and never gasoline, refueling outdoors only after the heater has cooled, never filling above the full mark and operating the heater with a door open to the rest of the house and an outside window open about an inch. Some jurisdictions restrict or ban unvented kerosene heaters in homes, so check your local rules. New York State’s health department advises against using these heaters as your main heat source, even during power failures, and recommends a generator run outdoors instead. Keep heaters away from anything that can burn, and install CO alarms. Previous versions of this article pointed to a specific kerosene heater model, the Sengoku CTN-110 KeroHeat, and kerosene fuel; we have not verified current details, so read the manufacturer’s instructions and local rules before you use any such heater.

Using a generator safely

A generator can power a refrigerator, lights, a furnace fan and a few other devices, but it is also a leading cause of carbon monoxide deaths. The CDC, Ready.gov and CPSC agree on the main rules:

• Use generators only outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors, vents and attached garages, with the exhaust pointed away from buildings. Not on a porch or in a carport.
• Never run a generator in a garage, basement, crawlspace or shed, even with doors or windows open.
• Keep the generator dry and protected from rain or flooding to avoid shock.
• Connect appliances with heavy-duty extension cords, and let the generator cool before refueling.
• Never plug a generator into a wall outlet or connect it to your home wiring, a practice called backfeeding, unless a licensed electrician installed a transfer switch.
• Look for models with a carbon monoxide shut-off feature. The CPSC says models certified to the latest standards can reduce CO deaths.
• Install battery-powered CO alarms.

For help choosing, see our guide to propane versus gas generators. Earlier versions of this article named the Duromax XP12000EH and the Champion dual-fuel 3800-watt generators; we have not re-verified their current specifications or safety features, so check the manufacturer’s details and look for CO shut-off protection. Our guides to starting a generator that has been sitting and storing gas long term cover maintenance and fuel.

Cooking during an outage

Use a camp stove or grill outdoors only, and never inside a home, tent, garage or camper. The CDC warns that charcoal grills, lanterns and camp stoves produce carbon monoxide. For tips on cooking without power, see how to cook in a grid-down situation.

What to do when the power goes out

1. Check whether it is just your home or the whole area, and report the outage to your utility.
2. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed.
3. Turn off or unplug appliances and electronics to avoid damage from surges when power returns, and leave one light on so you know when it is back.
4. Put on layers and choose a room to stay in.
5. Check on neighbors, older adults and anyone with medical needs, if it is safe.
6. If it becomes dangerously cold, go to a warming center.
7. When power returns, follow food safety guidance and discard anything unsafe.

Protecting your home

Cold weather can also damage your home. Many utilities and emergency agencies advise letting faucets drip slightly during very cold weather and opening cabinet doors under sinks to help prevent frozen pipes. Know how to shut off your water in case a pipe bursts. If you leave your home for a long outage, check with your utility or a plumber about how to protect your pipes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will food last in a power outage?

About four hours in a refrigerator and about 48 hours in a full freezer if the doors stay closed, according to Ready.gov. Discard food that has been at 40 degrees or higher for two hours or more.

Can I use my oven to heat my house?

No. Ready.gov says using a gas stove or oven to heat your home increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, fires and burns.

How far should a generator be from the house?

At least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages, with the exhaust pointed away, according to the CDC and Ready.gov.

Are kerosene heaters safe?

They can be used with care, but they carry fire and air-quality risks. Use only 1-K kerosene, refuel outdoors when cool, ventilate and check your local laws.

When should I go to a warming center?

If your home gets dangerously cold or you cannot stay warm safely. Check with local officials about open locations.

Bottom line

Prepare before winter: stock water, food, light and warm bedding, install CO alarms and plan for medical needs. Use generators and heaters only as directed and never indoors. Keep fridge doors closed, dress in layers and go to a warming center if you cannot stay warm.

Related reading

• Is It Better to Get a Propane or a Gas Generator?
• How to Heat a Tent Safely
• How to Store Water Long Term
• 72-Hour Kit Checklist for Families