US Trends

what to do if power goes out in winter

If the power goes out in winter, focus on staying warm, staying safe, and protecting your home from damage until electricity returns or you can reach another heated location.

Immediate safety first

  • Check if it’s a neighborhood outage or just your home (look outside, ask neighbors, check your utility’s outage map on your phone if it has service).
  • Report the outage to your power company if it isn’t already listed; do not assume someone else has called.
  • Avoid downed lines: if you see wires on the ground, stay far away and call emergency services and the utility.

Staying warm without power

  • Close off all but one or two rooms, preferably interior rooms with few windows, and have everyone stay there to share body heat.
  • Add layers: thermal base layer, sweater, coat, hat, gloves, thick socks, and blankets or sleeping bags; avoid getting clothing damp with sweat.
  • Use safe heat only: if you have a properly vented wood stove or fireplace, use it carefully and keep a fire extinguisher nearby; do not use ovens, grills, or unvented fuel heaters indoors because of fire and carbon monoxide risks.

Light, food, and water

  • Use flashlights or battery lanterns instead of candles to reduce fire risk; keep extra batteries or hand‑crank lights.
  • Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed; a full freezer can often keep food frozen for about 48 hours if unopened, and a fridge can keep food cold for about 4 hours.
  • In very cold weather, you can store well‑sealed food in secure containers outdoors or in an unheated porch, away from animals; discard anything that looks or smells off.

Preventing damage to your home

  • Let faucets drip slightly and open cabinet doors under sinks to help prevent pipes from freezing, especially along exterior walls.
  • If you’re at high risk for frozen pipes and the outage will be long, locate your main water shutoff and be ready to turn it off; in severe cases, draining pipes may be recommended by local guidance.
  • Unplug sensitive electronics to protect them from a surge when the power returns; consider switching off the main breaker if advised by your local utility and you know how to do it safely.

Carbon monoxide and last‑resort options

  • Make sure you have working carbon monoxide alarms with fresh batteries; place at least one near sleeping areas and another near fuel‑burning appliances if possible.
  • Never run a generator indoors, in a garage, or near windows; place it outside, far from doors and vents, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • If the indoor temperature keeps dropping and you cannot stay warm safely, go to a heated shelter, friend’s home, or public warming center if roads and conditions allow.

Quick Scoop

  • Stay safe first: report the outage and avoid downed lines.
  • Seal yourself in one or two small rooms with layers and blankets to hold heat.
  • Use only safe heaters and never burn fuel indoors without proper ventilation and detectors.
  • Protect your food and pipes, unplug electronics, and be ready to leave for a warmer place if your home gets dangerously cold.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.