Winter storm power outage: how to stay warm and safe
Short answer
Plan to keep one room warm, keep the furnace blower running if you can, and never use fuel-burning equipment indoors. Before the storm, charge your power station, fill water containers and test your carbon monoxide alarms. During the outage, gather in one room, protect pipes from freezing, keep the fridge and freezer closed, and use battery power for small, efficient loads like electric blankets, lights and phones.
Before the storm: a short checklist
- Fully charge your power station, phones and battery packs.
- If you have a generator, check fuel, oil and extension cords, and run it briefly outdoors to confirm it starts.
- Test carbon monoxide and smoke alarms, and have spare batteries.
- Fill containers with drinking water, especially if you have a well pump.
- Know where your main water shut-off valve is.
- Stock blankets, warm layers, flashlights and food that needs no cooking.
Keeping warm
A gas furnace needs electricity for its blower and controls. If yours is set up with a transfer switch or furnace inlet, a generator or large power station can keep the whole house heated. See whether a power station can run a furnace.
Without that, heat the people rather than the house:
- Choose one room, ideally on the sunny side with few exterior walls, and close the doors.
- Hang blankets over doorways and windows, and block drafts under doors.
- Use electric blankets or heated pads on battery power. They use 50 to 100 W, while a space heater uses up to 1,500 W. Details in our space heater guide.
- Dress in layers and wear a hat indoors.
Carbon monoxide is the biggest winter outage danger. Never use a generator, grill, camp stove, gas oven or outdoor heater to heat your home, and never run a generator in a garage, even with the door open. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advises placing generators at least 20 feet from the house with the exhaust pointed away. If a CO alarm sounds or anyone feels dizzy, nauseated or confused, get outside to fresh air immediately and call 911.
Protecting your pipes
- Let cold water drip from faucets on exterior walls. Moving water is less likely to freeze.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks so indoor warmth reaches the pipes.
- If the outage will last days in severe cold and the house will freeze, shut off the main water valve and drain the pipes by opening the lowest faucets.
Food safety
USDA guidance says a closed refrigerator keeps food safe for about 4 hours, and a full freezer for about 48 hours. Keep the doors closed and use an appliance thermometer.
It is tempting to store food in the snow, but USDA advises against it: outdoor temperatures swing, sun can warm food, and animals can get to it. A safer use of the cold is to fill containers with water, let them freeze outside, and put the ice in your fridge or a cooler.
A power station of about 1,000 Wh can keep a fridge running for many hours. See our refrigerator runtime guide.
What to power first
| Priority | Appliance | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medical devices (CPAP, oxygen) | Health and safety |
| 2 | Furnace blower (if connected safely) | Heats the whole house and protects pipes |
| 3 | Phones, router, radio | Information and emergency calls |
| 4 | Refrigerator and freezer | Protects food; can be cycled on and off |
| 5 | Electric blanket, lights | Comfort at low power |
Add up your own list with the runtime calculator or the generator size calculator.
When to leave
If your home gets dangerously cold, especially with older adults, infants or anyone with health conditions, go to a warming center, a friend's home or a hotel. Local emergency management and 211 can tell you where warming centers are open.
Frequently asked questions
How can I heat my house without power?
If your gas furnace is connected to a generator or power station through a transfer switch or inlet, it can keep heating. Otherwise, gather in one room, block drafts, wear layers and use electric blankets on battery power. Never use grills, camp stoves or outdoor heaters indoors.
How long will my house stay warm without power?
It depends on insulation and outside temperature. A well-insulated home may lose only a few degrees over several hours, while a drafty one in severe cold can drop much faster. Keeping doors closed and gathering in one room slows heat loss.
Can I put food outside in the snow during an outage?
USDA advises against it, because sun and changing temperatures can warm food and animals can reach it. Instead, freeze containers of water outside and use the ice to keep food cold.
Should I drip my faucets during a power outage?
Yes, in freezing weather. A slow drip from faucets on exterior walls helps prevent pipes from freezing and bursting.
Sources and method
- FoodSafety.gov (USDA): Avoid foodborne illness during temporary power outages
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: carbon monoxide deaths and portable generator safety
- Ready.gov (FEMA): Winter weather
Runtime figures assume 85% of battery capacity reaches AC appliances and typical US appliance ratings. See exactly how we calculate. Found a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.