FIELD GUIDE 02 / WINTER STORMS
Plan warmth before the heat goes out.
A warmer destination, safe heating decisions, blocked exhausts and practical preparations for snow and ice.
01 / PREPARE
Before the event.
Choose a heated fallback
Identify a friend, relative or officially announced warming location and confirm access, hours and transport. Write down who can help anyone with mobility or medical needs. Do not make the first transport plan after roads become hazardous. [1] [3]
Check the household kit and alarms
Gather warm layers, blankets, ready-to-eat food, water, medicines, flashlights and a radio. Check battery-backed carbon monoxide alarms and have heating equipment serviced by a qualified technician. [3] [4]
Prepare for travel disruption
Postpone unnecessary journeys when conditions are dangerous. If travel is necessary, carry winter supplies and a charged phone; tell someone your route. Keep fuel available before the storm and check local road advice. [2] [3]
02 / RESPOND
During the event.
Conserve warmth safely
Wear loose layers, keep clothing dry, close unused rooms and draw curtains. Keep required appliance ventilation unobstructed. Never use a gas oven, charcoal grill or camping stove to heat an indoor space. [2] [4]
If stranded in a vehicle
Stay with the vehicle rather than walking into blowing snow. Contact help and make the vehicle visible. NWS advises running the engine about 10 minutes per hour for heat, with a window slightly open and the exhaust pipe clear of snow; only do this when it can be done safely. [2]
03 / RECOVER
After the immediate threat.
Check access and exhausts
Wait until it is safe to go outside. Snow can obstruct furnace exhausts; follow manufacturer instructions and get qualified help for inaccessible vents. Do not climb an icy roof to clear equipment. [2]
Review refrigerated food
A closed refrigerator protects food for up to four hours without power. A closed full freezer holds temperature about 48 hours, or 24 hours when half full. Use the official food-by-food chart; appearance or taste does not prove safety. [5]
DETAILS WORTH KNOWING
A few assumptions to check.
A blocked exhaust can change the risk
A running car trapped by snow can accumulate carbon monoxide if its exhaust is blocked. Clearing the tailpipe is part of NWS stranded-vehicle guidance, not an optional housekeeping step. [2]
Cold weather can also interrupt payment
Canadian preparedness guidance recommends some cash because bank machines and electronic payments may stop during outages. Set aside a practical amount while services work. [3]
HOUSEHOLD POWER
Where backup power fits.
A battery plan for phones and lights is different from a plan for electric space heating. Illustrative calculation: a heater drawing 1,500 W uses 1,500 Wh in one hour before conversion losses. A 1,000 Wh battery cannot supply that hour even in an ideal calculation. Confirm your heating system with an installer; do not improvise a connection to household wiring.
Try this before you need it
Imagine the roads are already icy and your home is getting colder. Write down the transport option you arranged in advance and the person who will confirm the warm destination is available.
Local context: Canada
Use Canadian weather warnings and provincial road conditions for the journey itself. Local warming locations, municipal notices and utility updates are more useful than a generic national checklist during an active storm.
04 / MAKE IT YOURS
Your household action card.
Print the PDF and complete the last page. Keep it with your kit. The checkboxes below are temporary reading aids; they do not save information.
FOLLOW THE SOURCES
Official guidance.
The numbered references beside each action link here. Read the original guidance for fuller context and follow current instructions at your location.
- NOAA / NWS — Prepare for cold weather ↗
- NOAA / NWS — Caught in a winter storm ↗
- Environment and Climate Change Canada — Be prepared for winter weather ↗
- CDC — Carbon monoxide prevention ↗
- FoodSafety.gov — Food safety during a power outage ↗
Original summaries and household planning prompts by StillPower Guide, operated by Mihai Florea. Sources checked October 24, 2026. No agency endorsement. This page is educational preparation, not a live alert service. In immediate danger call your local emergency number (911 in the U.S. and Canada).
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