A Winter Storm Plan for Heat, Water, and Communication
Cold-weather readiness before the first ice.
Winter storms strand households without heat, water, and comms. Plan for all three.
Heat without the grid
Have a safe supplemental heat source and know its limits. Never use an oven, outdoor grill, camp stove, or generator indoors — all are serious carbon-monoxide risks. Carbon monoxide is odorless and deadly; a working CO alarm on every floor is non-negotiable if you heat with anything that burns fuel.
If you have a fireplace or wood stove, have it inspected and cleaned before the season. Store fuel safely and away from the house. For households without a safe supplemental heat source, plan to stay with a friend or in a warming center during an extended outage in extreme cold, especially if anyone is vulnerable to cold.
Water and pipes
Know how to shut off water if a pipe freezes or bursts. A burst pipe in a cold snap is one of the most common and damaging winter emergencies. Locate your main shutoff before you need it, and know how to drain the system if you leave the home during a deep freeze.
Keep a supply of stored water before a storm. If pipes freeze, you may be without running water for hours or days. Insulate exposed pipes where you can, and let a faucet drip slightly during extreme cold to keep water moving — moving water is harder to freeze.
Stay connected and informed
A battery or hand-crank radio keeps you informed when cell towers are strained. Keep phones charged before a storm arrives, and have a power bank ready. A charged phone is how you'll check on neighbors, call for help, and receive alerts.
If you must travel, keep a winter kit in your vehicle: blanket, water, snacks, flashlight, phone charger, and a way to signal for help. Tell someone your route and expected arrival time. If you get stuck, stay with the vehicle — it is easier to find and shelter than to walk out in a storm.
Sources & further reading
This guide is planning guidance, not emergency advice. In an emergency, call 911. See a mistake? Report it.