How to Get Ready for Winter Storms and Power Outages at Home

A winter storm can knock out power, close roads, and keep you at home for days. A little planning now makes those days safer and much less stressful. This guide walks through what to gather, who to talk to, and how to stay warm and well when the lights go out.

Know What the Weather Alerts Mean

The National Weather Service uses a few simple terms. Knowing them helps you decide when to act.

Watch: Dangerous weather is possible but not certain. A winter storm watch usually means a big storm could arrive within about two days. This is your signal to check supplies.
Warning: Dangerous weather is happening now or is about to. Stay home if you can.
Advisory: Weather is expected to cause real trouble, such as slick roads, but is less serious than a warning.

You may also hear “Extreme Cold Warning” or “Cold Weather Advisory.” These newer names replaced the older wind chill alerts. A battery-powered or hand-crank weather radio, local TV or radio, and the free FEMA app can all keep you updated.

Build Your Emergency Kit

Aim to have enough supplies to get through several days without power or a trip to the store. You don’t need to buy everything at once. Start with what you have and add a few items each week.

The Basics

Water: one gallon per person per day, for drinking and washing
Food that doesn’t need cooking or refrigeration, plus a manual can opener
Flashlights and extra batteries (safer than candles)
A battery-powered or hand-crank radio
A first aid kit
Phone chargers and a charged backup battery
Warm blankets or a sleeping bag for each person, plus hats, mittens, and layers
Some cash

Items Just for You

A supply of your prescription medicines, plus the over-the-counter ones you use
Spare eyeglasses, hearing aid batteries, and contact lens supplies
Batteries and chargers for any medical devices
Copies of your Medicare, Medicaid, and other insurance cards
Important papers stored in a waterproof container or saved electronically
Food, water, and supplies for pets or service animals

Check your kit at least once a year, swap out anything expired, and keep it where it’s easy to find in the dark. If you drive, keep a separate car kit with blankets, water, snacks, a scraper, and a phone charger, and check it every six months.

Make a Plan With Your Support Network

Ready.gov encourages older adults to build a circle of family, friends, and neighbors who can help in an emergency. A few conversations before winter can make a big difference.

Pick at least one person who has a spare key to your home.
Show that person where you keep your emergency supplies.
If you use lifesaving equipment or medicine, teach that person how it works.
Agree on how you’ll check in with each other if the power goes out or phones are down.
Write key phone numbers on paper, since a dead phone means no contact list.
Find out where your community opens a warming center or other place with heat and power.

If you still get federal benefits by paper check, consider switching to direct deposit. Mail can be delayed for days or weeks after a disaster.

Medications and Medical Devices That Need Power

If you rely on medical equipment that plugs in or runs on rechargeable batteries, plan ahead with your doctor.

Ask your doctor how to power your devices during an outage and how long their batteries last.
Keep backup batteries charged and stored with your kit.
Make a plan for storing any medicines that must stay refrigerated.
If you have a generator, decide in advance which devices get plugged in first. You may not be able to run everything at once.
Know where you could go to stay warm and keep devices running if the outage drags on.

After an outage, Ready.gov and the CDC advise replacing refrigerated medicines if the power was out for a day or more, unless the label says otherwise. If a medicine you depend on has warmed up, call your doctor or pharmacist. Keep using it only until you get a new supply.

Get Your Home Ready for the Cold

A few tasks in the fall help your home hold heat and lower fire risk.

Have a qualified technician check your furnace and vents each winter.
If you’ll use a fireplace or wood stove, have the chimney inspected every year.
Seal drafts around doors and windows with weather stripping or caulk.
Insulate water pipes along outside walls. During deep cold, let faucets drip and open cabinet doors under sinks.
Put a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector near any area you’ll heat. Test it monthly.
Keep an easy-to-read thermometer indoors where you’ll see it often. The CDC suggests this for anyone over 65.

Staying Warm Safely

Carbon Monoxide: The Hidden Danger

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas you can’t see or smell. The CDC says it kills more than 500 Americans each year, and the risk rises during winter outages, when people look for other ways to stay warm.

Never use a generator, charcoal or gas grill, or camp stove inside your home, basement, or garage, even with the door open.
Keep generators at least 20 feet from windows, doors, and vents.
Never use a gas oven or stovetop to heat your home.
Never run a car in a garage.

Early CO poisoning can feel like the flu. Watch for headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, or confusion. People who are asleep may never notice symptoms. If you suspect CO poisoning, call 911 or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

Keeping Your Body Warm

Dress in layers and stay dry. Skip alcohol and caffeine, which make your body lose heat faster. Use flashlights instead of candles when you can.

Older adults face a higher risk of hypothermia, especially without enough heat, food, or warm clothing. Signs include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, and drowsiness. A body temperature below 95°F is a medical emergency. Call for help right away.

Keeping Food Safe When the Power Goes Out

FoodSafety.gov offers clear guidance that can save you from a foodborne illness.

Before winter, put appliance thermometers in your fridge and freezer. The fridge should be 40°F or colder, and the freezer 0°F or colder.
Freeze containers of water ahead of time. They keep food cold and give you drinking water as they melt.
During an outage, keep the doors closed. A closed fridge keeps food cold for about 4 hours. A full freezer holds for about 48 hours, or about 24 hours if half full.
Don’t store food outside in the snow. Outdoor temperatures swing, and animals can get into it.
Once power returns, throw out perishable food, such as meat, fish, eggs, and leftovers, that sat above 40°F for 2 hours or more.
Frozen food that still has ice crystals or is at 40°F or below can be refrozen or cooked.

Never taste food to check whether it’s safe. When in doubt, throw it out.

Check on Neighbors and Friends

The CDC encourages people to check on older friends and neighbors often during cold weather to make sure their homes are heated. A quick call or knock can matter a lot, especially for someone who lives alone. If you’re the one living alone, ask a nearby friend or relative to check in on a regular schedule during storms.

A Safety Note on Snow and Ice

Shoveling is hard work, and cold air makes the heart work harder. If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, talk with your doctor before you shovel. Your support network may be able to help keep your steps and walkways clear.

If you do shovel, use a light shovel, push snow rather than lift it, bend your knees, take frequent breaks, and drink water. Stop and call 911 if you feel chest pain or other heart attack symptoms. Spread salt or sand on steps and walkways, keep outdoor lights working, and use a less icy entrance if your main one tends to freeze. If you use a walker or cane, dry the tips or wheels before you head inside.

How to Get Ready for Winter Storms and Power Outages at Home

Know What the Weather Alerts Mean