Winter Storm and Power Outage Plan

Before the storm

• Stock at least a week of water, food that needs no cooking, and medications.
• Have warm clothing, hats, gloves, blankets or sleeping bags rated for cold for each person.
• Insulate pipes and know how to shut off your water if they freeze.
• Test carbon monoxide detectors and make sure they have battery power.
• Keep a winter kit in your car: blanket, flashlight, snacks, water, ice scraper, shovel and sand or kitty litter for traction.

Staying warm without power

• Choose one room, ideally on the side of the house that gets sun, and close doors to the rest.
• Cover windows with blankets or heavy curtains at night, and block drafts under doors with towels.
• Wear several loose layers, a hat and socks, even indoors. Sleep in sleeping bags rated for cold.
• Eat and drink regularly; your body needs fuel to stay warm.
• Use only heaters designed for indoor use, following the manufacturer's instructions, and never leave them unattended.

Never do these

Never use a gas oven or stovetop, charcoal or propane grill, camp stove or generator to heat your home. These produce carbon monoxide, which the CDC says kills more than 400 people in the U.S. each year. See our carbon monoxide safety guide.

Know the signs of cold injury

Frostbite: redness or pain in skin, then white or grayish-yellow skin that feels firm, waxy or numb. Hypothermia: shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech or drowsiness. Hypothermia is a medical emergency; get the person warm and call 911.