It seems like the worst storm ever is always about to hit these days! In these times of severe weather, it good to ready in case you are stuck at home in an ice storm. Preparing for a winter power outage requires careful planning to ensure warmth, safety, and comfort. Focus on maintaining heat with insulated clothing, blankets, and safe portable heaters, while sealing drafts to retain warmth. Stock up on non-perishable food, water, and essentials like flashlights, batteries, and backup power sources. Keep a first aid kit, medications, and emergency communication tools handy, and ensure vehicles are ready with full tanks and winter supplies. Safety measures like carbon monoxide detectors, pipe insulation, and fire prevention are crucial, along with having entertainment options to stay occupied during the outage. I will share more details on how to prepare below.
Surviving Without Power
Today, I am sharing how to prepare for a winter storm power outage. My sister lived in Texas during the 2019 winter storm devastation and she sent me her best power outage tips and tricks to help make sure I never got caught in a severe winter weather situation. There was a power outage in her area for several days and there was also a drinking water shortage affecting millions of people. Scary stuff! My big sister sent me a list of tips for survival and things she wished she had on hand so that my mother and I could prepare before any weather disaster may hit our area. I am sharing her tips for survival without power in the hopes it will help others prepare.
How To Survive Without Electricity
I remember my grandmother who lived through the great depression was always about being prepared. She imparted that lesson to my mother and my mother has always liked to have at least two sources of heat when possible- some overlapping combination of electric, gas, oil, and wood burning fireplace/ stove.
Surviving for long without electricity is a scary proposition but one that I tend to overlook being from a younger generation where all things we want are almost always available. I tend to take it for granted that I will have electricity and running water. However, once electricity goes out that causes water problems too.
As Crisis Equipped reminds us, “Our plumbing systems are dependent on electricity to function properly. During a power outage, there will be no electricity to power the pump which is responsible for the flow of water throughout our homes.”
In short, surviving without electricity involves not only be prepared for the cold element and the edible food element, it also involves having drinking water on hand. Finally, since most people have cell phones these days, a power outage may result in the inability to charge your cell phone causing communication problems as well. Now you know what to prepare for! Here are 20 power outage tips and tricks to help you prepare.
Cold Weather Power Outage Tips and Tricks
These survival tips and tricks should help you to survive power outages and water shortages whether they are caused by winter storms, hurricanes, tornados, or floods. First, pick a small, enclosed area to gather in during the outage. It is a good idea to pick out a well insulated room before hand and use weatherstripping, door sweeps, and window insulation kits to retain heat. If you lose electricity, you may want to cover windows for insulation and let faucets drip to prevent frozen water pipes. It also goes without saying that you should bundle up in warm clothing. Have thermal underwear, wool socks, hats, gloves, and insulated clothing ready. Now, here are things to have on hand to be prepared to survive without electricity.
1. Battery Charging Source
Keep an alternative battery charging source for your phone. You can purchase an external battery which can store some backup power. Usually you can charge the phone off a computer (if it has a battery which is already charged.) They also have alternative energy source chargers you can get to be prepared. Here is my affiliate link to one on Amazon.
2. Light Sources
Keep flashlights, batteries, candles, lighters, and matches on hand. If you use candles, remember that they can be fire hazard so use them sparingly and carefully. Also keep battery powered lamp, kerosene lamps, or solar powered outdoor lights to keep main areas lit.
3. Insulated Bedding
Keep super warm sleeping bags and other insulated bedding for severe cold emergency in which there was no power or heat. Use wool or fleece blankets and sleeping bags designed for cold weather.
4. Portable Heaters For Emergency Heating
Invest in a kerosene heater/ propane heater and the fuel to run them in an emergency. Use safe, indoor-rated propane or kerosene heaters, and ensure proper ventilation to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Here are some more ways to heat your house in an emergency.
5. Drinking Water
Always keep several gallons of bottled water on hand. It is a good idea to store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for three days.
6. Water for dishes and toilet
If you know a winter storm is coming, you may want to fill up your bath tub and any buckets and pots you have on hand so you will have enough water available to wash dishes and flush toilets when needed.
7. No Cooking Required Emergency Food
Don’t assume your local stores will be open or have power. Here is a photo my sister took at her local Walmart. Empty aisles.
You need food that you can eat without cooking. You may not have power of any kind to cook. Handy items to have include some freeze dried food, some beef jerky, and a can opener on hand at all times. Stock canned goods, nut butter, granola bars, and instant meals.
If you have a family, it can’t hurt to have an emergency food stash. Here is my affiliate link for a ready made meal kit on Amazon. If you have a pet, have extra pet food on hand too!
8. BUY A GAS GENERATOR
My sister put that in all caps so you can tell she really wishes she had one during her time without power. You need a portable generator and the fuel to run it for back up power in a prolonged crisis situation.
9. Gas Can
If you know there is potential to loose power, be prepared by filling your car gas tank and you may want to have 5 gallons of gas for emergency back up. The lines for oil and gas here in Texas were super long when there were open gas stations at all.
10. BBQ Pit
Gas stove, outdoor BBQ pit, or charcoal grills so that your family can cook a hot meal. A much warming and calming activity in my sister’s experience. It provides nourishment and warmth and lifts morale. You will also need charcoal, a few logs of dried wood, and charcoal lighter fluid.
11. Hand towels, wet wipes, and cleaning wipes.
You will need plenty of extra towels, rags, and wipes. Cleaning things and staying sanitary quickly becomes an issue.
12. Emergency Kit / Bug Out Bag
A bug out bag is a prepared survival kit which is especially handy if you live in the country and might be trapped or have to survive in the wilderness during your escape route. You can prepare one yourself but they make some really good ones that are worry free. I found one on Amazon- here is my affiliate link– and it has Top Practical Survival Tools (All survival gear in this kit are essential, including a Multifunction Shovel, 12 in 1 Saber Card, 4 in 1 Survival Bracelet, Combat Tourniquet, 1 Set of Fishing Kit, Fire Starter, Modern Compass, Flashlight, Flashlights, Raincoat, Emergency Tent Shelter, First Aid Kit, Professional Wire Saw, Tactical Pen, 2 in 1 Fork & Spoon, Knife, 4 Web Dominators, and 4 Climbing Hooks), High-quality Emergency Equipment Set, and Survival First Aid Kit.
13. Prepared Car
Basic automotive supplies you may want to have: oil, power steering fluid, anti-freeze, tire repair kit, air compressor, jack, jumper cables, and extra battery.
Keep car already packed with survival items for trips and on the road. So if you needed to you could just jump in the car and go in 10 minutes if you had to.
Keep your car with a full tank of gas and have antifreeze in there if you live in warm weather places. Living in south Texas, she said she didn’t have antifreeze in their car and it was a struggle to keep the water in her radiator from freezing.
14. Walky Talky
These can be used between your house and the house of close by friends or family in the event all phone towers lose power or the internet is not available. They work for distances of at least around town. They are good to have on hand and practice using. It is an important survival tip to not rely solely on phone. We experience connectivity issues with that too in Texas!
15. Battery-Powered Radio
Have a clock that runs on battery or is a wind up clock radio so you can stay connected to local news sources. Keep extra batteries on hand for electronic devices.
16. A Local Map And Compass
This is especially important in the country but may be helpful in the city too. An atlas, a local map, a state map, and a compass will help you be prepared when you don’t have GPS to help you navigate.
17. First Aid Kit
Another important tip for survival is to have emergency medical supplies on hand. A first aid is always good to have on hand but especially when foul whether hits and you may not be able to get to a doctor. Keep a 7-day supply of essential medicines.
18. Self Defense Item Of Choice:
According to each individual needs and abilities, you may want to have a self defense item on hand, just in case.
- Cattle Rod
- Pepper Spray
- Light Baseball Bat
- BB Gun
- Pistol or shotgun and ammo
19. List of phone #s
Write down important phone numbers in case your phone dies. This may come in handy if your cell phones and internet die but you get a chance to use a neighbor’s phone.
- Family
- Friends
- Neighbors
- Local Emergency #s
- Police
- Fire
- Rescue
- Local Grocery Stores
- Government offices
- Local Hospitals
20. Cash and documents
It is always good to have some cash on hand and if power is out they may not take credit cards. It is good to have your important documents ready in a grab and go form like insurance policies, ID, etc.
Conclusion On How To Survive A Power Outage In The Winter
These are just tips for survival based on mostly things my sister found herself needing during the power outage emergency in Texas. It’s all very good to have. It is way better to be over prepared and be able to help others than to be at the complete mercy of strangers! As my grandmother always said, “It is better to be safe than sorry.”
With so many increasing weather disasters, these type of electricity and water crisis are becoming more common. Now, more than ever, we need to make sure that we keep survival tips and tricks on the brain and be ready year round. There is a real need for this preparation. I hope you found this household emergency readiness list useful. Which of these power outage tips and tricks did you find most helpful.
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Ike says
Thanks for providing valuable insights into cold-weather power outages. It makes me want to learn about long-term solutions like sustainable heating options and innovative survival tools.
Hannah says
Winter storm power outages are the worst. Thanks for sharing your tips to help prepare for ice storms and power surges this time of year.
Georgina says
Thanks for the tips. I have stocked up on nonperishable foods and emergency supplies. I didn’t realize that power outage could effect the tap water so thanks for the heads up to have plenty of gallons of water on hand in case of emergency.
Ophelia says
I got here through bing search. You are so right. The best time to store food is BEFORE potential power outages. Supplies always run low during inclement weather, especially with heavy snowfall stopping transportation of shipments.