As Americans, we’re lucky to live in a country where we take working utilities, like electricity and water, pretty much for granted. Most of us reside in homes connected to the power grid and municipal water supplies. We rely heavily on the assumption that the lights and heat in our houses will always come on when we need them – until, that is, a major storm rolls into our area.
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According to the Climate Center, a non-profit organization that studies climate trends, weather-related power outages are on the rise in the United States. In December 2022, winter storm Elliott left more than 1.5 million homes without power. The prospect of getting through multiple days without electricity may seem very dire indeed – especially when sometimes just getting through an hour without our phone or computer can prove difficult. With some planning, though, you’ll be able to weather (pun intended) one like a survivalist pro.
Here's how to prepare for and get through a winter power outage without too much duress.
Make a power outage emergency kit
The trick with emergency kits is you need to prepare them before a storm hits. Make sure you have a supply of any essential medications on hand, as well as a well-stocked first aid kit for any accidents or mishaps.
Stock up on batteries to power radios, flashlights, and other small electronics you may need.
Keep an emergency weather radio around so you can stay informed of what’s going on in the outside world. This one from Raynic can be charged via solar power, hand crank, AAA batteries, or a USB connection and also includes a 3-watt flashlight.
Speaking of flashlights, check that they are operable with a charged power source. Having some basic handheld ones around is useful for ferreting out whatever else you may need when navigating a completely dark house.
Add some candles to your emergency kit as well. Everything always seems a bit better by candle light – just be sure not to leave open flames unattended. These unscented pillar candles from Stonebriar burn for 65 hours.
Or, try liquid paraffin emergency candles with a burn time of 115 hours.
Crayons also make good candles; just light the pointy end.
If you know a potentially dangerous storm is imminent, fill your car up at the gas station, as well as any gas cans, especially if you own a gas-powered portable generator.
If you don’t have one, purchase a car charger for USB devices.
Food and water to last three days
If you’re anything like my parents (and are lucky enough to have the space), you probably already have enough canned and frozen food squirreled away to last you three years, so the three-day thing is likely more than covered. If you want to up the ante even more, consider a stash of freeze-dried food like this disaster kit from Readywise. It includes a total of 52 meal servings in individual packages.
Make sure you have enough water. Fill your bathtubs and sinks right before a storm just in case municipal water becomes unavailable. Use this water for essential services like toilet flushing or boil to use it for cooking. Keep some gallons of drinking water on hand.
While you can certainly eat canned foods straight from the tin without any other preparation, having a functional stove will make getting through a power outage a little more civilized. If your home has a gas stove, it (obviously) doesn’t require power. Use a match to light the burner if needed.
If your kitchen stove is electric, an outdoor propane grill, open fire, or firepit offers an excellent alternative cooking source. Just ensure you have enough propane and firewood on hand. This smokeless fire pit from BioLite includes a fan that helps keep your fire burning at a consistent temperature for better cooking results.
Your storm preparedness should also include testing your carbon monoxide detector. Remember to never use a gas stove to heat your house and operate all portable stoves outside at least 20 feet from any structure.
Once the power goes out
When you’ve reached the part of your storm experience that includes no power to your home, unplug electronics to protect them from any surges when the electricity does come back on: things like your HVAC system, electric oven, refrigerator, and televisions. Consider a UPS (uninterrupted power supply) unit for electronics.
Keep the freezer and refrigerator doors closed as much as possible. Before the storm hits, lower the temperature in both so they will stay cold longer if/when the power goes out. You can also fill your washing machine with ice for another place to store perishables.
If you’re worried your pipes might freeze, shut off the main water supply to your house and open all the faucets to drain. If you live somewhere that routinely experiences below-freezing temperatures, your pipes are likely already well insulated. For assurance, turn on faucets to allow a small drip through the pipes.
An extended winter power outage is also a strong case for still keeping an active landline with an “old-fashioned” corded phone that doesn’t require any electricity to work. Remember those?
Keeping the Lights on and Staying Warm – Alternative Power Sources
I grew up in a house predominantly heated by a wood-burning stove inserted in the living room fireplace. While this is/was a great idea in theory, much of the house (anything further than a four to five-foot distance from the fireplace) was quite chilly. My mom kept a plethora of blankets. My favorite one as a kid was a wool army surplus one similar to this:
If you don’t like the feel of wool, these fleece, sherpa blankets from Kawahome are a great alternative.
As well as blankets, dress in layers, and wear a hat to keep yourself warm. If things get really intense, chemical hand warmers provide instant, localized heat.
An extended winter power outage is also an excellent time for a living room campout complete with tents and sleeping bags – especially if you have young children.
Because of his predilection for fireplace heating, my dad always covered the house windows with clear plastic during the winter. Duct tape and plastic sheeting is a quick way to seal heat inside your house and keep it warmer for longer. Also, remember that southern-facing rooms will get more sun (when it does come out again) and consequently, be warmer.
Even gas furnaces require electricity to power the fan that sends the warm air out and through the vents; gas fireplaces usually have an electrical starter that you can install a battery backup.
You can charge this portable power station from BioLite with a power outlet, your car, or solar panels for use in emergency situations.
If you live in a place where you lose power relatively often, invest in a backup generator that will run most of your house. This 8000-watt one runs on gasoline, propane, or natural gas and includes a shield carbon monoxide shutoff system.
For large generators, have a certified electrician install a transfer switch that acts as a miniature circuit breaker panel that draws electricity from your generator instead of from the street. When the electricity goes out, you simply plug the generator into an outdoor outlet connected to the switch. This alleviates running multiple extension cords from the generator into the house as well as allows you to choose which breakers/circuits are essential during an outage.
What to do during a summer power outages
Summer storms and heat waves can bring power outages, too. Getting through these calls for most of the same tactics as their cold-weather counterparts (minus the fear of freezing pipes); simply swap ‘staying warm’ with ‘how to keep cool’.
Add to your emergency supplies some battery-operated fans to move hot air around. For a cooling boost, direct the fan to a wet, hanging towel.
Stay in the lowest level of your home as it will be the coolest. The house I grew up in had a full, finished basement which was where my mother would send us during excessively hot summer afternoons.
For illumination needs, consider no flame light sources – because even a small candle burning emits some heat.
If you’re prepared - and barring any property damage caused by high winds and/or heavy snow - you’ll get through a winter power outage pretty much unscathed. In fact, your biggest challenge will probably be finding ways to amuse yourself and your family that don’t include electricity.