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Prepare for a winter outage as a several-day emergency, not a short inconvenience. Before the storm, reduce heat loss, assemble food, water, medicines, lighting and charging supplies, protect pipes, arrange backup power safely, and identify a place to warm up. During the outage, prevent carbon-monoxide poisoning, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed, preserve battery power, and leave for a shelter or another heated location if the home becomes dangerously cold.
Start with a several-day household plan
Winter storms can interrupt electricity, water, communications and transportation at the same time. FEMA winter guidance recommends supplies for several days and says to account for the people and animals actually in your household. A useful plan answers four questions: what each person needs, how you will receive warnings, how you will stay warm, and where you will go if the house is no longer safe.
Inventory people, animals and essential equipment
Write down every need that cannot be postponed for several days. Include prescription and over-the-counter medicines, mobility aids, infant supplies, pet food and medications, and any device that requires electricity. Record equipment model numbers, battery types, charger types and the clinician or supplier to call. A generic power bank or small generator may not support medical equipment; the backup plan must be specific to the device.
| Need | What to stage | Planning check |
|---|---|---|
| Food and water | Several days of shelf-stable food, drinking water and a manual can opener | Include items for allergies, infants, older adults and pets |
| Medication and medical care | Prescriptions, supplies, written instructions and provider contacts | Ask the clinician and equipment supplier how long the device can operate without utility power |
| Light and information | Flashlights or lanterns, spare batteries and a battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA weather radio | Test switches, batteries and radio reception before storm season |
| Communications | Charged phones, power banks, charging cables and adapters | Keep an out-of-home contact and a meeting or check-in plan |
| Warmth | Warm clothing, hats, gloves, blankets and sleeping bags | Set supplies where everyone can reach them without searching in the dark |
| Animals | Food, water, medication, carriers, leashes and sanitation supplies | Plan transport and a destination that accepts the animals |
Set up warnings and communications
Sign up for local emergency alerts and utility outage notifications. Monitor weather forecasts and official emergency-management instructions by radio or a charged phone. Agree on who contacts relatives, where household members meet if separated, and which out-of-area person receives status updates. Keep a paper list of phone numbers, addresses, medication information and emergency contacts because an internet connection may fail.
#1 Best Overall
- Electrochemical sensor technology detects CO gas
- Easy installation, no wiring needed, detects during a power failure by operating on 2-AA batteries (included); Install on a wall of your home or place on a tabletop
- Green LED indicates power to the carbon monoxide detector, while an 85-decibel alarm & a red LED indicates the presence of carbon monoxide
- Event Memory records the last time carbon monoxide was detected or when the unit was last tested
Choose a warm destination now
Identify a nearby friend or relative, community warming center or emergency shelter. Confirm hours, transportation, accessibility, pet rules and whether medical equipment can be accommodated. CDC guidance advises seeking shelter with friends or at a community shelter when indoor conditions become too cold. Decide how you will travel if roads are icy, and keep coats, shoes, identification and essential medicines ready for a quick departure.
Reduce heat loss before the storm
Weatherization is most useful before the outage, when you can work safely and see drafts. FEMA guidance specifically recommends insulation, caulking and weather stripping. The right combination depends on your climate, the part of the house losing heat and whether you rent or own.
Find and seal drafts
- Inspect exterior doors, window frames, attic access panels and utility penetrations for moving air.
- Use weather stripping around movable doors and windows where the material fits correctly.
- Apply suitable caulk to stationary gaps around frames and trim. Follow the product instructions and building requirements.
- Improve insulation where practical, especially in areas identified by a qualified contractor or energy assessor.
Renters should ask the landlord before altering windows, doors, insulation or mechanical systems. Do not block required ventilation openings, combustion-air inlets or emergency exits while trying to stop drafts.
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Learn how your home’s plumbing is laid out and which pipes are exposed to exterior walls, crawl spaces or unheated rooms. Local utility, building and emergency-management guidance should determine whether a particular faucet, valve or pipe needs protection. There is no universal drain-the-pipes or thermostat procedure: plumbing design, climate and water service differ. Know the location of the main water shutoff and how to reach it if a pipe bursts.
Rank #2
- Keep your family safe with this easy to use, battery operated carbon monoxide alarm; Battery powered alarms provide continuous monitoring of CO levels, even if there's a power failure
- Features an advanced electrochemical carbon monoxide sensor that accurately detects carbon monoxide levels, no matter where the detector is placed in the room.The alarm sequence should last 5-6 seconds. If it does not alarm, make sure fresh batteries are correctly installed, and test it again. If the unit still does not alarm, replace it immediately
- A loud 85 decibel alarm sounds when CO levels reach dangerous , Battery Replaceable - Yes
- To ensure complete protection make sure to place one on each level of your home and in each bedroom
- 5-year limited warranty; Equipped with end of life signal chirp, so you know when it’s time to replace the unit for safety
Check alarms and fire safety
Install and test smoke alarms and carbon-monoxide (CO) alarms with battery backups before winter. Replace batteries as required by the manufacturer and keep spare batteries with the outage kit. A generator, fuel-burning heater or vehicle can create CO even when the home looks ventilated; alarms must remain powered and unobstructed.
Choose backup electricity by load, not by convenience
Backup power is a design problem. List the devices that must run, their starting and running wattage, how long they must operate, and whether they can be connected outdoors. Medical equipment receives priority. A refrigerator, furnace controls, sump pump, well pump, internet equipment and lights may have different startup demands, so have an electrician or qualified installer size the system.
| Decision factor | Questions to answer |
|---|---|
| Intended loads | Which devices are essential, and what are their starting and running power requirements? |
| Medical dependence | What does the clinician or equipment supplier require for uninterrupted operation? |
| Location | Can the equipment remain outdoors, dry and at least 20 feet from openings? |
| Connection | Will a qualified professional install code-compliant transfer equipment, or will appliances use individual outdoor-rated cords? |
| Fuel and runtime | What fuel is available during an extended outage, how will it be stored legally, and how often will the unit need refueling? |
| Noise and maintenance | Will noise disturb neighbors or sleeping occupants, and can you perform the required checks? |
| Codes and budget | What do local electrical, fire and building codes require, and what installation cost can the household support? |
Do not connect a portable generator to a household wall outlet or improvise a connection to the electrical panel. Interconnection and transfer equipment require qualified, code-compliant installation. If you use a portable unit, plan the individual loads and cords before the storm rather than troubleshooting in darkness or snow.
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Generator and carbon-monoxide safety
CDC generator guidance states: “Generators should be located at least 20 feet from any window, door, or vent and in a space where rain and snow will not reach them.” Keep the exhaust pointed away from the building and place the unit where drifting snow cannot block it. Never move it into a porch, shed, basement or garage to protect it from weather.
Rank #3
- Keep your family safe with this 2-pack of easy to use, battery operated carbon monoxide alarms; Battery powered alarms provide continuous monitoring of CO levels, even if there's a power failure
- Features an advanced electrochemical carbon monoxide sensor that accurately detects carbon monoxide levels, no matter where the detector is placed in the room
- A loud 85-decibel alarm sounds when CO levels reach dangerous levels
- To ensure complete protection make sure to place one on each level of your home and in each bedroom
- 5-year limited warranty; Equipped with end-of-life signal chirp, so you know when it’s time to replace the unit for safety
Use the equipment safely
- Operate gasoline-powered generators and other engines outdoors only, never in a home, basement, garage or enclosed outbuilding.
- Keep the generator at least 20 feet from windows, doors and vents, even if they are closed.
- Keep the unit dry; do not operate electrical equipment when it is wet.
- Use individual heavy-duty, outdoor-rated extension cords that are in good condition and rated for the connected load.
- Keep fuel outside living areas in approved containers and follow local storage and fire rules.
- Refuel only after the engine has been shut down and cooled, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Keep a battery-operated or battery-backup CO detector in the home and test it before use.
Never use a charcoal grill, camp stove, propane heater not approved for indoor use, generator or other fuel-burning appliance inside the home. Never use a gas range or oven to heat the house. CO is odorless and colorless and can cause sudden illness and death if inhaled. CDC prevention material reports more than 500 Americans die from unintentional, non-fire-related CO poisoning each year; the page’s figure may change as CDC content is updated.
Recognize a possible CO emergency
Headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and confusion can indicate CO poisoning. If an alarm sounds or poisoning is suspected, leave immediately for fresh air, do not re-enter to search for people or pets, and call 911 or Poison Control as CDC power-outage guidance advises. Seek emergency help even if symptoms improve outside.
Stay warm without creating a new hazard
Conserve heat by gathering occupants in the safest reasonably warm room, closing doors to unused areas and dressing in dry layers. Wear a hat, socks and gloves; use blankets or sleeping bags and avoid getting clothing or bedding wet. Keep pathways clear for evacuation and keep lighting available so nobody trips while moving between rooms.
Do not seal a room so tightly that you block required ventilation or combustion air. Do not operate candles, grills, camp stoves or unapproved heaters as substitutes for safe heating. Follow the heater manufacturer’s clearance and fuel instructions for any device that is specifically approved for indoor use.
Rank #4
- Electrochemical sensor technology detects CO gas
- Easy installation, no wiring needed, detects during a power failure by operating on 2-AA batteries (included)
- Conveniently designed & portable: simple to install on a wall of your home or place on a tabletop
- Green LED indicates power to the smoke detector, while an 85-decibel alarm & a red LED indicates the presence of carbon monoxide
- Peak Level Memory records the last time carbon monoxide was detected or when the unit was last tested
Know when to leave
There is no single safe indoor temperature for every person or home. Infants, older adults and people with medical conditions may become vulnerable sooner, and frozen pipes can create additional danger. If the house cannot be kept safely warm, if a medical device cannot be powered, or if CO or fire risk cannot be controlled, go to the preselected warm location or an official shelter. Take medicines, identification, phones, chargers, warm clothing and pet supplies.
Food safety during the outage
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Opening them repeatedly replaces cold air with warm air and shortens the safe storage period.
| Appliance or food state | CDC guidance | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator, unopened | Food stays safe for up to 4 hours without power | After four hours, discard refrigerated perishables |
| Full freezer, unopened | Up to 48 hours | Keep the door closed and check the food when power returns |
| Half-full freezer, unopened | Up to 24 hours | Discard frozen perishables if they have thawed |
| Food with ice crystals | May be safely refrozen or cooked if it still feels as cold as refrigerated food | Evaluate each item; when in doubt, discard it |
Use appliance thermometers so you can judge conditions without relying on smell or appearance. Do not taste food to decide whether it is safe. CDC and FoodSafety.gov guidance can change, so check the current instructions when publishing or when an outage occurs, particularly after an unusually long interruption.
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CDC notes that large-scale disaster outages can last longer and may be life-threatening for people dependent on home-use medical devices. Contact the clinician, equipment supplier and utility before winter to create a device-specific plan. Ask about approved batteries, oxygen or other consumables, charging intervals, alarms, transportation and the nearest facility that can provide treatment.
Best Value
- Keep your family safe with this 3-Pack of easy to use, battery operated carbon monoxide alarms; battery powered alarms provide continuous monitoring of CO levels, even if there's a power failure
- Features an advanced electrochemical carbon monoxide sensor that accurately detects carbon monoxide levels, no matter where the detector is placed in the room
- A loud 85-decibel alarm sounds when CO levels reach dangerous levels
- To ensure complete protection make sure to place one on each level of your home and in each bedroom
- All First Alert CO alarms are rigorously tested to meet UL standards. Dimensions-3.4 x 1.5 x 5 inches
Keep phones, power banks, charging cables and adapters together. A hand-crank or battery NOAA weather radio provides warnings when cellular service or internet access fails. Use text messages when possible because they may work with less connectivity than voice calls. Conserve battery by lowering screen brightness, disabling nonessential radios and checking for official updates at planned intervals rather than continuously.
Keep a paper copy of medical instructions, allergies, emergency contacts, insurance information and utility account details. If a powered device begins alarming, overheating or operating irregularly, follow the equipment manual and contact the supplier; do not substitute an unapproved battery or inverter.
Operate the household through the outage
- Confirm conditions. Check the utility status and official weather or emergency alerts using the radio or phone. Report the outage if the utility requests it, and avoid downed lines, flooded areas and damaged equipment.
- Establish a safe room. Bring lighting, blankets, medicines, water, food and communication equipment together. Close unused rooms while preserving required ventilation.
- Start the power plan. If using a generator, move it to the preselected outdoor location, verify the 20-foot clearance, keep it dry, connect only planned loads and monitor the CO detector.
- Track time and temperature. Note when power failed, how long refrigerator and freezer doors remain closed, and any medical-device battery limits.
- Check vulnerable occupants. Monitor children, older adults, people with health conditions and pets for cold stress, dehydration or worsening medical symptoms.
- Decide early about relocation. Leave while roads and daylight make travel safer if heat, medical power, water or communications cannot be maintained.
Understand the outage risk without false precision
CDC reported an average of about four hours of power loss per year in 2024, but that is a national average and not a promise about your address or the next storm. CDC also warns that large-scale disaster outages can last longer. Prepare for several days because restoration time depends on storm damage, access, utility crews and local conditions.
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Quick Recap
When power returns
- Turn off and cool the generator before moving or refueling it, and store it only as its instructions and local rules allow.
- Disconnect temporary cords and have any damaged electrical equipment inspected by a qualified professional.
- Check refrigerators and freezers against the elapsed-time guidance; discard food that exceeded safe limits or thawed without remaining ice-cold.
- Inspect for burst pipes, water leaks, roof damage, smoke or CO alarms and unusual odors before restoring normal use.
- Recharge power banks, radios and battery-backed alarms, replace consumed supplies and record what failed.
- Update the plan with lessons from the outage, including fuel, transportation, shelter and medical-device needs.
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