Last updated November 1, 2026 by the BasicSurvivalKit.com team
For winter storms, plan a safe way to heat one room (an indoor rated heater plus a carbon monoxide alarm), warm sleeping bags and layers, backup power, food that needs no cooking, and a winter car kit with a blanket, shovel and jump starter.
Winter storms are dangerous because the cold itself becomes the emergency when the power goes out. Prepare now, before the first big storm.
1. A safe way to stay warm
- An indoor safe Mr. Heater Buddy can heat one room. Follow the manual and keep a window cracked for fresh air.
- Always run a battery carbon monoxide alarm.
- Never heat your home with a gas oven, grill or generator indoors.
2. Warm layers for everyone
Cold weather sleeping bags, wool blankets, thermal base layers and hand warmers. An indoor tent over a bed traps body heat surprisingly well.
3. Power for the long nights
Winter nights are long. A portable power station runs lights, phones and small devices, and a generator used safely outdoors can power a furnace blower if wired by an electrician.
4. Protect your pipes
Know where your main water shutoff is and keep a shutoff tool handy. Let faucets drip during extreme cold.
5. Winter car kit
Keep a jump starter, collapsible shovel, traction boards, an emergency blanket, water and snacks in every car. See car emergency kits.
6. Food that needs no cooking
Stock ration bars, canned food and a manual can opener, plus a camp stove for hot meals outdoors.
Common questions
What is the safest way to heat a home without power?
An indoor rated propane heater used exactly as directed, with fresh air and a working carbon monoxide alarm, or warm layers and sleeping bags in one closed off room.
What should be in a winter car kit?
A blanket, a shovel, an ice scraper, traction aids, a jump starter, a flashlight, water, snacks and a phone charger.
This guide shares general preparedness information based on public guidance from Ready.gov, the American Red Cross and the CDC. It is not professional advice. Always follow local officials during an emergency.