If you lose power in a winter storm, focus on three priorities: staying warm, staying safe (especially from carbon monoxide and fire), and protecting food and pipes from damage.

Immediate safety checks

  • Look outside (from a window, if possible) to see if the outage affects other homes and quickly check your breakers; then report the outage to your utility and stay away from downed lines.
  • Turn off or unplug sensitive electronics to protect them from a surge when power returns, but leave one light on so you know when power is back.

Stay warm without power

  • Close off unused rooms, pick one “warm room,” and seal drafts with towels, blankets, or plastic around doors and windows to trap heat.
  • Dress in layers (base, insulating, outer), wear hats and gloves indoors, and use multiple blankets or sleeping bags; consider moving to a lower level like a basement, which may hold heat better.

Heat and light – what’s safe

  • If using a fireplace, wood stove, or generator, follow safety rules: keep them vented, never run a generator or grill inside or in a garage, and use a carbon monoxide detector if you have one.
  • Use flashlights or battery lanterns instead of candles when possible; if you do use candles, keep them away from flammable items and never leave them unattended.

Protect water, pipes, and food

  • Let faucets drip slightly, open cabinet doors under sinks, and, if it’s extremely cold and long-term, be ready to shut off the main water and drain the system to prevent burst pipes.
  • Keep fridge and freezer doors closed; a full freezer can often keep food frozen for about two days, but if the outage is much longer, be prepared to throw food out rather than risk illness.

Make it through the hours (or days)

  • Eat ready-to-eat or shelf-stable foods and drink fluids regularly; use camping stoves or grills only outside and well away from doors and windows.
  • To pass time and keep spirits up (especially with kids), use low-energy activities like card games, storytelling, and simple group games—these are common tips shared in winter-outage forum guides.

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