Getting through a winter power outage at home

Quick answer: have supplies to stay home for several days without power, keep any generator outside at least 20 feet from windows and doors, never heat the house with a gas stove or oven, and keep the refrigerator and freezer closed. (Ready.gov (FEMA); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Ready.gov (FEMA))

A small house and wooden stairs covered in deep snow

Before the storm

A winter storm can cut off heat, power, and phone service for several days. (Ready.gov (FEMA)) Gather water, food, flashlights, extra batteries, and medicines for everyone, plus pet supplies. Weather-strip doors and windows, and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms that have battery backups. (Ready.gov (FEMA)) The 72-hour household plan and the 72-hour kit guide cover the basics.

Staying warm safely

Run a generator only outdoors, more than 20 feet from windows, doors, and vents, and never in a garage, even with the door open. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Let a generator or fuel-burning heater cool before you refuel it. (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission; Ready.gov (FEMA))
Keep a portable heater at least 3 feet from curtains, furniture, and bedding, plug an electric heater straight into a wall outlet, and turn heaters off when you sleep. (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)
Never heat the house with a gas stovetop or oven. (Ready.gov (FEMA); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Use flashlights or battery lanterns instead of candles. (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)
If your home gets too cold, go to a community location that has power. (Ready.gov (FEMA))

Food in the refrigerator and freezer

Keep the doors closed. A closed refrigerator keeps food safe for about 4 hours, a full freezer about 48 hours, and a half-full freezer about 24 hours. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) The guide to food safety when the power goes out covers what to keep and what to throw out.

Medical devices and medicine

If someone uses a CPAP, an oxygen concentrator, or medicine that needs the refrigerator, plan for it ahead of time. Check with the device maker or a clinician about power, water, and backup supplies. (Ready.gov (FEMA); U.S. Food and Drug Administration) The power outage planner estimates the watt-hours each device uses in a day, and the power station runtime calculator shows how long a battery station would run them.

Follow your local officials during the storm. Every number on this page is listed with its source on the sources page.