Lights Out? Keep Your Family Safe, Fed, and Warm
Power outages are a part of storm season and winter weather, but they don’t have to leave you cold or hungry. With a little planning ahead—and the right items in your emergency kit—you can keep your household safe, warm, and comfortable until the lights come back on.
Prep Your Pantry: When severe weather is on the horizon, a well-stocked pantry makes all the difference.
- Choose shelf-stable foods like canned beans, tuna, fruit cups, and peanut butter
- Don’t forget comfort items like granola bars, crackers, or instant coffee.
- Keep at least a 3-day supply of food and water for your household.
Tip: Rotate your emergency food items into your everyday meals to reduce waste.
Cook Without Power: When the oven’s out, safe alternatives are key.
- Use a camp stove or grill—outdoors only—for heating food.
- Try simple no-cook meals (think wraps, canned soups, or ready-to-eat items)
- Keep refrigerators and freezers closed as much as possible to preserve your food longer. A closed fridge keeps food cold for up to 4 hours. Discard perishable food after 4 hours without power.
- Cook meat before a severe storm or winter weather.
- Use perishable food first during the power outage.
Tip: Keep a manual can opener handy! Or choose cans with pull tops.
Be Warm Without Electricity: Staying warm is about safety and comfort.
- If possible, equip your home with a safe, non-electric heat source, such as a wood-burning stove or fireplace, or a properly vented propane or natural gas heater, before cold weather sets in. You should never use ovens or grills indoors for heat—carbon monoxide is deadly.
- If your home already has one of the above-mentioned heat sources, make sure they are in working order sometime in late summer or early fall. Have your propane and natural gas heaters tested for leaks and proper ventilation. Inspect woodburning stoves and fireplaces, and have chimneys swept. Stock up on wood or have the propane tank filled well in advance of cold weather.
- In cases where safe alternate heat sources are not an option, start by layering your clothing. Designate one room to serve as your main living space. If you’re with family, have everyone stay together there to conserve heat. If you live alone, keeping to a single room still helps you stay warmer and use resources more efficiently.
- Block drafts under doors and windows and close off unused rooms.
- Use blankets and sleeping bags to trap heat.
- Let the sun work for you—open curtains during the day to allow natural warmth into your home. Close them again as the temperature starts falling.
Light the Way: Don’t be left in the dark when the power goes out.
- Keep flashlights and extra batteries in easy-to-reach places.
- Consider solar-powered lights or rechargeable power banks with built-in lights
- Use candles with caution—never leave them unattended or near flammable materials
- Try high-quality glowsticks designed for emergencies.
Tip: Assign each family member their own flashlight so no one is left searching in the dark.
Weather reports give us a heads-up—our job is to prepare before the storm hits. By stocking your pantry, planning safe cooking methods, and knowing how to stay warm, you can turn a power outage into an inconvenience instead of an emergency
