Prepare for outages from ice, heavy snow and blizzards in the US Northeast and Midwest: warm room plan, safe heat, car kit and official alerts.
- Ice and heavy snow can cause multi-day outages, so prepare a warm room and no-cook food.
- Never use ovens, grills, stoves or generators indoors, and keep battery-backed carbon monoxide alarms.
- Keep your vehicle fuel tank at least half full and a winter kit in the car.
From the Great Lakes to New England, winter storms are a regular source of outages. Heavy snow can bring down branches, freezing rain coats lines with ice, and blizzards combine high wind and blowing snow that can make roads impassable. The National Weather Service describes winter storms as bringing snow, sleet and freezing rain, and notes that slippery roads cause many traffic injuries and deaths each year.
An outage in a cold climate is dangerous mainly because of how quickly a house cools and how tempting unsafe heating can be. This guide focuses on a calm, safe plan.
Get your alerts in order
Watches mean conditions are possible, warnings mean they are happening or about to. Turn on wireless emergency alerts on your phones, keep a NOAA Weather Radio or other battery or hand-crank radio, and follow your county or state emergency management office. The National Weather Service winter safety page and Ready.gov's winter weather page are good places to read before the season. For power outages, know the name of your electric company and save its outage line and outage map link. See alerts and outage reporting and the radio guide.
Why ice is the worst
Ice storms deserve extra caution. Even a thin layer adds weight to lines and trees, and falling branches can disrupt service over a wide area. Crews often cannot start repairs until roads are safe, so restoration can take days. Stay away from damaged trees and wires, and keep at least 10 metres (33 feet) away from any downed line, assuming it is live. The ice storm guide has a full timeline.
Make a warm room
- Pick a small interior room, ideally with few windows. Close doors and hang blankets over windows.
- Wear layers, dry socks, a hat and gloves. Use sleeping bags and share body heat.
- Eat regularly and drink fluids. Your body generates heat from food.
- Move your hands and feet from time to time, but avoid sweating.
- Know where your main water shut-off is. If the house will be unheated for a long time, follow local guidance about protecting pipes.
Read how to stay warm without power for more. A furnace usually needs electricity for its fan and controls, so see keeping a furnace running in an outage.
Vehicle and travel safety
Stay home during heavy snow or ice if you can. If you must travel, tell someone your route, keep your tank at least half full and carry winter gear. A basic kit should include blankets, a flashlight, a shovel, traction aids, water, snacks, a phone charger and warm clothing. Our winter car emergency kit works equally well south of the border. If you get stuck, stay with your vehicle, keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow and run the engine only briefly to avoid carbon monoxide.
Supplies for a multi-day outage
- About 4 litres (1 gallon) of water per person per day for at least three days. Keep a few extra for pipes that freeze.
- No-cook food and a manual can opener. See no-cook foods.
- Medication, backup power for medical devices and a plan for older relatives. See older adults and outages.
- Headlamps and batteries, a power bank or battery station, and cash.
- Pet food, bedding and a warm place for animals. See pets in a power outage.
Keep food cold by using the outdoors when it is below freezing, but protect it from animals. Check it against the food safety guide. For backup power, start with the outage planner, the power station hub and the 72-hour checklist.
Roof, driveway and safe outdoor work
Heavy snow can load roofs and trees. Clear snow from vents, exhaust pipes and the area around any outdoor equipment, because blocked vents can send carbon monoxide inside. Shovel in short sessions, because heavy snow work is a strain on the heart, and take breaks. Keep a path to the main entrance, the meter and the fuel tank. Do not climb on an icy roof. If a branch or wire is down on your property, report it to the utility and stay clear until crews arrive.
Quick answers
What is the safest way to stay warm in an outage?
Pick one small interior room, wear layers, use blankets and sleeping bags, and avoid any fuel burning device indoors.
What should I do if I get stuck in my car in a storm?
Stay with the vehicle, keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, run the engine only briefly and keep a window slightly open if you do.