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1. How cold does it get where you are?
Pick your coldest nights
Heat loss is the main danger in a winter outage. Your plan changes with how cold the house can get.
Carbon monoxide kills. Never use a barbecue, camp stove, charcoal or a fuel generator inside a home, garage or tent, even with a door open. Keep generators outdoors and well away from windows and doors. Install battery powered or battery backup CO alarms and test them now.
Keep warm without risky heat
- Pick one small room, close doors, and hang blankets over windows and door gaps.
- Dress in layers, add hats and socks, and use sleeping bags rated for cold.
- Electric blankets use little power and run well from a power station. Space heaters do not.
- Use only heating equipment made for indoor use and follow its safety instructions.
- If you cannot keep your home safely warm, go to a warming centre or a friend's place.
Light and information
- Headlamps and LED lanterns are safer than candles.
- A battery or hand crank radio keeps you informed when phones and cell towers struggle.
- Power banks for phones, charged before the storm.
- Spare batteries in the sizes your devices use.
Before a storm
- Charge everything.
- Fill vehicle fuel tanks.
- Know where your main breaker and water shut off are.
- Agree on who will check on neighbours who may need help.
Guides on this topic (23)
How to Stay Warm Without Power (Safely)Heat one room, layer up, and avoid the carbon monoxide mistakes that hurt people every winter.›How to Cook Without Power Safely (and What to Eat Cold)Safe outdoor cooking options, no-cook meals and the carbon monoxide rules for stoves, grills and heaters.›Winter Storm Prep Checklist for Canada: Home, Car and 72-Hour KitA Canadian winter storm checklist covering alerts, home, car and a 72-hour kit, so a storm or outage is an inconvenience, not an emergency.›Pets in a Power Outage: Water, Food, Warmth and EvacuationHow to plan for dogs, cats and small animals in a power outage: how much water and food to store, keeping them warm or cool, medications, and evacuating with pets.›How to Keep a Furnace Running in a Power OutageA gas furnace needs electricity for its blower and controls. Learn safe ways to power it in an outage, including transfer switch and CO rules.›Using a Portable Power Station in Cold WeatherLithium batteries struggle in the cold. Learn charging limits near freezing, capacity loss, where to keep your power station and how to store it.›Carbon Monoxide Safety in a Power OutageKnow where carbon monoxide comes from during outages, the official symptoms, why battery-backup alarms matter and what to do if you suspect exposure.›Ice Storm Power Outage GuideHow to prepare for and survive an ice storm outage: damage to lines and trees, long outages, travel, downed lines and warming centres.›Winter Car Emergency Kit for Canada and the US NorthWhat to carry in your car for winter in Canada and the northern US, and how to stay safe if you are stuck in snow, including exhaust pipe safety.›Wood Stove and Fireplace Safety in a Power OutageSafe use of a wood stove or fireplace in an outage: chimney checks, carbon monoxide, ventilation, ash and why charcoal never goes indoors.›Power Outage Prep in Alberta: Cold, Wildfire and StormsHow Alberta households can prepare for outages from deep cold, blizzards, wildfire and summer storms, with the official alert and outage tools to use.›Power Outage Prep in Quebec: Ice Storms and Deep WinterQuebec outage prep built around ice storm history, electric heating and deep cold, with Hydro-Quebec status page tips and a warm-room plan.›Winter Storm Outage Prep for the US Northeast and MidwestPrepare for outages from ice, heavy snow and blizzards in the US Northeast and Midwest: warm room plan, safe heat, car kit and official alerts.›Keep Your Home Warm During a Power OutageHow to hold heat in your home when the furnace stops: insulate, close off rooms, cover windows, and never use ovens or grills for warmth.›Power Station for a Heated Blanket or Space Heater?Space heaters drain a battery in an hour or two, while electric blankets sip power. Learn the runtime logic and warmer, safer alternatives.›How to Make Coffee and Hot Drinks Without PowerSafe ways to make coffee, tea and hot drinks in a power outage: camp stove outdoors, French press, thermos and carbon monoxide rules.›Winter Storm Grocery List: What to Buy FirstA category-by-category winter storm grocery list: no-cook foods, drinks, baby and pet items, plus a few non-food extras to grab before the roads close.›Keeping Insulin and Medications Cold in an OutageGeneral guidance on keeping insulin and refrigerated medicines cool during a power outage, with a reminder to follow the label and your pharmacist.›How to Prepare for a Power Outage in WinterPrepare for a winter power outage: layers, heating one room safely, protecting pipes, the car, food and a 72-hour plan for cold weather.›How to Stay Cool Without AC in an OutageStay cool during a summer outage: simple cooling tricks, hydration, heat illness warning signs and when to head for a cooling centre.›How to Heat a Room Without Electricity, SafelyPick one small room, seal it, layer up and use only safe methods. A practical plan to heat a room without electricity and without carbon monoxide risk.›How to Keep Pipes From Freezing in a Power OutageProtect your plumbing when the heat goes out: faucet drips, open cabinets, insulation, when to drain the system and what to do if a pipe freezes.›Candle Safety in a Power Outage: Rules That Prevent FiresCandles cause house fires in outages. Learn safe holders, distances, rules for kids and pets, and better battery light options for the night.›