Navigating a winter storm power outage safely hinges on adequate preparation. This guide outlines expert advice on how to remain safe during an outage and prepare for future disruptions, ensuring you and your family are protected when the electricity goes out. Michael Coe, vice president for physical and cybersecurity programs at the American Public Power Association, emphasizes this, stating: “When thinking about preparedness, I always think about the old proverb of, ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’”
How to prepare for a power outage depends on your specific needs, said Denise Everhart, disaster executive with the American Red Cross. The answer is different if you have kids, pets, or medical devices that require consistent power. It’s crucial to consider these factors when assembling your emergency supplies and developing your plan.
If you have critical medical devices that rely on electricity, inform your utility provider. Many providers post forms on their websites for customers to disclose these medical needs during outages, or you can call them directly. There are often ways to provide backup batteries or other types of energy so that if there is some type of power shut-off, you wouldn’t be affected.
Sometimes, the best move during a prolonged or severe outage is to evacuate if staying at home would make things unsafe. Assess the risks associated with your home’s heating, water, and any medical equipment before deciding whether to shelter in place or seek alternative accommodation.
If you’re prepared to stick around, it’s time to break out the emergency kit. Ideally, it should contain two weeks of food, water, pet supplies, and medicine. Include cash for a week in case ATMs and credit card machines go down, as well as flashlights, glow sticks, or battery lanterns. Backup phone batteries and charger cords are essential, along with blankets for cold weather or extra water for hot weather.
The trick with food during an outage is finding something nutritional, edible, and palatable. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a good staple, as is canned food. But again, the right food depends on the family. “Is your 6-year-old really going to eat a cold can of chili?” said Everhart.
Blackouts can be vastly different experiences depending on where you live. If you’ve got gas heat and live in a city, chances are you’ll still be able to take hot showers. If you’re on electric heat and rely on well water, you’ll likely have one good toilet flush left from what’s in the tank, and no running water.
Before the power goes out, Matthew Gonzales, executive director for the Consumer Energy Alliance Southwest Region, recommends filling the tub or a bucket with water so you can keep filling the tank and flushing the toilet. It’s also important to sign up for emergency alerts from your utilities, your local police, and other EMS facilities so you can know immediately if there are boil water notices, evacuation orders, or other important messages.
Featured snippet paragraph: The answer to staying safe during a winter storm power outage involves preparation, having an emergency kit with food, water, and supplies, knowing how to conserve refrigerator and freezer contents, and having safe heating alternatives. Always check for boil water notices and never bring generators indoors.
Once the power’s out, keep the fridge closed so it will stay cold. Food can last up to four hours in a refrigerator and up to 48 hours in a freezer, but those numbers go down if the door keeps opening to let warmer air in. Eat the perishable food first.
If it’s as cold as a refrigerator outside, or about 37 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius), moving food outdoors can help it last longer. But it’s not a foolproof solution, since temperature can fluctuate. So if something smells, looks, or tastes funny, don’t eat it.
Before using the water in your home, check to make sure the water is still safe to use. The Red Cross emergency app, for example, lists government alerts like boil water notices when the supply gets contaminated. There are plenty of ways to stay warm when the power’s out, but safety is paramount.
Folks with fireplaces and furnaces will still be able to use them. If that’s not you, hand warmers, heated jackets, battery-powered heated blankets, and portable propane space heaters can all help make short, cold outages more comfortable. The tanks that fuel those space heaters can fuel small gas camping stoves, too.
Don’t leave a space heater or candles unattended because that can cause a house fire, and don’t bring a generator inside because it can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, Everhart said. If it’s too hot or too cold to stay safe with what you’ve got, then it’s time to leave your home.
But before you do, check on your neighbors if you’re able to, Gonzales said. Planning for next time is crucial. The best time to plan for a blackout is when there’s no imminent threat of one happening. Figure out how to open your garage door when the power’s out, establish one place where you keep your keys, and have all your paperwork in one place in case you have to evacuate quickly.
Come up with a plan B evacuation route that works if the main route is closed. If you’re taking public transportation, find out what their emergency routes look like. Save up for a larger generator; those portable options that supply 5,000-10,000 watts can power small appliances like a microwave, refrigerator, or a space heater, and keep phones charged. They typically cost $500-$1,000.
Solar battery storage or reverse electric vehicle charging can help keep the power on when the rest of the grid goes down. Agree upon ways to contact or meet up with family or friends in case internet or phones stop working. But for most outages, Everhart said, preparedness just isn’t that complicated. “Have a kit, have a plan, have a way to get notified, and a way to notify people. That’s really preparedness in a nutshell,” she said.
