Winter Power Outage Supplies: How to Stay Warm, Safe & Fed Without Electricity

A winter power outage can quickly turn from inconvenient to dangerous, especially when temperatures drop below freezing. Whether the cause is a snowstorm, ice storm, high winds, or a stressed electrical grid, losing heat and electricity in winter is a serious emergency.

The key is preparation. With the right supplies on hand, you can stay warm, safe, and comfortable even if the power is out for several days.

Here are the essential winter power outage supplies every household should consider.

Why Winter Power Outages Are More Dangerous Than Summer

• Risk of frozen pipes
• Hypothermia risk indoors
• No heat = unsafe living conditions
• Roads often blocked, delaying help

One of the most common causes of winter power outages is heavy, wet snow and ice accumulation…

One of the most common causes of extended winter power outages is heavy, wet snow and ice accumulation.

Having lived in the northeast (New England – currently New Hampshire), I certainly know about winter snowstorms. Surely many of you also live in regions where you get snow during winter.

The thing is, a winter snowstorm can be dangerous. Instead, lets make it tolerable. Even cozy. In my opinion, there’s nothing quite like watching a raging snowstorm through the window of a warm cozy home. I’m sort of a weather geek, so I find it, well, ‘fun’…

A winter snowstorm will cause especially bad problems when:

• The snow is heavy and wet as opposed to light and fluffy
• Snowstorm is accompanied by high winds
• Sleet or Ice accumulation anytime during the event

If the snow is anywhere near ‘heavy and wet’, watch out below! Down come the branches… It’s even worse if the snowstorm is during the late Fall season with leaves still on the trees!

Anyway, I’ve experienced snowstorms with many feet of light and fluffy snow in a single event without any bad repercussions. On the other hand, it doesn’t take too terribly much ‘wet and heavy’ snow (or ice) to bring down power lines. The worst is a snowstorm that dumps a foot of heavy wet snow. Why? Because it’s wicked heavy! You’re about guaranteed to lose power as trees and tree limbs come down over power lines. And it might take a long time before crews get to your neighborhood.

Essential Winter Power Outage Supplies

Priorities, right? I could list pages of supplies. However, lets focus on the priorities here.

Here are the top priorities during a winter power outage:

• Heat and staying warm (it’s winter, so I assume it’s cold outside)
• Water (if you have well water, otherwise you’re fine on municipal)
• Emergency Lighting
• Food (should be a no-brainer)
• Ability to Cook some food, percolate some coffee, make hot chocolate!
• Portable Radio for weather and news

How to Stay Warm During a Winter Power Outage

This reminds me of a winter snowstorm / ice storm event in Texas during 2021 that devastated the area and caught millions of people off-guard. Snow and Ice. It was so bad that the power was out for weeks in many places. And it was very cold outside! The storm was an unusual event for that region. But, it happens. People were desperate to keep their house warm. They were even burning furniture in their fireplace (if they had one). So, how to mitigate that?

Generator

First thought – a generator. At least a portable generator powerful enough to run your furnace, fridge, freezer, and well pump (if you have one). Bear in mind that most all well pumps require 240 volts, so you will need a 240 volt generator output (so, know that when choosing one).

Portable Generator

Minimal setup is simply running an extension cord from a portable generator that you haul out of the garage and place outside. It may be easy to simply plug in ordinary appliances. However, you may have to get a bit more creative to jack it into your furnace (depending on your furnace). If you know electricity and you’re a do-it-yourselfer, it’s not that difficult. However, consult an electrician if you need to – who will probably recommend the suggestion in the following paragraph.

A mid-size portable generator (5,000–7,500 watts) is enough to run a furnace blower, refrigerator, freezer, and lights during a winter power outage.

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Example: A dual-fuel portable generator (gasoline/propane) offers flexibility during fuel shortages.
(View dual-fuel portable generators on Amazon)

Read:

• Best Extension Cord For Generator | Heavy Duty Gauge Recommendation
• Cold Weather Extension Cord That Stays Flexible & Won’t Crack
• Best Fuel Stabilizer for Generator (How Much to Use + Top Picks)
• Generator For Freezer- What Size – How Long To Run
• Jackery Power Station vs Generator (Differences)

Generator with a Transfer Switch Kit (multiple circuits)

Next level up is installing a transfer-switch kit for an outside generator to selectively power electrical circuits of your choosing from your utility electrical panel. Here’s an example of a 6-circuit transfer switch for a generator up to 7500 watts. I installed one of these at my dad’s house a number of years ago…

Reliance Controls 30 Amp 6-circuit Pro/Tran
(view on Amazon)

Whole House Generator

A ‘whole house’ standby generator. This is obviously expensive, and you need a big generator. These typically will automatically come on when the power goes out, and obviously, power the ‘whole house’. I believe the most popular brand in this arena is Generac.

Buddy Heater

During a winter power outage, if you need a safe indoor backup heat source for one room, a propane radiant heater like the Mr. Heater “Buddy” series is one of the most popular emergency options.

A propane space heater. The Buddy Heater brand is extremely popular for a portable space heater. I’ve had one for years. It won’t keep your whole house heated, but it will do a decent job in a room. The bigger model will heat more space. Use with caution and common sense. Follow safety guidelines according to their instructions.

4,000-9,000-BTU Indoor-Safe Portable Radiant Heater
(view on Amazon)

During the winter, the immediate concern will be heat. This particular heater will safely and effectively provide plenty of heat for a room. You will have bigger problems if the outdoor temperature remains consistently below freezing while at the same time the power outage lasts much longer than a day (pipes will begin to freeze and may rupture), but this heater will provide a first level of defense for a short term survival situation.

[ Read: Buddy Heater Run Time | 1-lb & 20-lb Tanks ]

Wood Stove – Pellet Stove – Fireplace

You either have one or more of them, or you don’t. But if you do, then always keep an adequate supply of wood or pellets! No doubt you already do (have a good supply) if you normally heat (or supplement heat) your home with a wood or pellet stove.

However, if you have a fireplace, chances are it’s for ‘looks’. And you may not have any, or hardly any wood ‘fuel’ for it. Maybe a good idea to have some more on hand? Just know that an ordinary fireplace is not an efficient way to heat. Lots of heat from the room/house gets sucked up the flu. But it’s better than nothing! It will put out radiant heat.

[ Read: Fireplace Reflectors Improve Wood Burning Heat Efficiency ]

[ Read: How to Run a Pellet Stove During a Power Outage ]

Oh, IMPORTANT! Please make sure you have at least one carbon monoxide detector in your home (battery operated!). I’ve been using this one which powers from the AC outlet AND battery power backup:

Never use heaters or stoves indoors without a working carbon monoxide detector. This is non-negotiable during a winter power outage.

First Alert Dual-Power Plug-In Carbon Monoxide Detector
(view on Amazon)

[ Read: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Symptoms ]

Warm Blankets – Enough of Them For Everyone

If you can’t get your house as warm as you want it (no power), warm blankets will be pretty important. Sure, you could keep wearing a warm jacket and warm clothes. But it will sure help to sleep at night if everyone had a warm blanket. Or, for cozying in a chair…

Wool or Fleece? Either is good.

[ Read: Warmest Blanket Material For Winter — Fleece vs Wool ]

Water

During a winter power outage, homes on well water lose running water immediately because well pumps require electricity.

So, if your water source is simply from ‘the street’, your municipal water supply will be fine during most any short or mid-length power outage. The city/town is equipped to handle power outages and keep the pumps running.

However, if you’re on a well pump (like I am), then you need to come up with a plan. Most well pumps are 240 volt. So, a generator with a 240 volt output. It could be integrated into your grid box via a transfer switch as exemplified above.

Additionally, especially if you have a well, you should always keep a supply of extra water above ground. Maybe a 55 gallon drum? That’s what I do…plus some smaller jugs for storage and transport of potable water.

[ Read: 55 Gallon Water Storage Barrel | How-to Clean & Store For Emergency ]

[ Read about: Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon Water Containers ]

Lighting During a Winter Power Outage

During a winter power outage, lighting is an obvious need. You’ve got options here…

A rechargeable LED lantern that can also run on AA batteries is one of the most versatile lighting tools during an outage.
(See popular emergency lanterns on Amazon)

Each bullet point is associated with an article on the blog:

• Flashlights
• Headlamps
• LED Lanterns
• Hurricane Lamps
• Candles

Another tip is to use landscape solar lights. Simply set them outside during the day for a charge, and then use them at night inside.

[ Read: Charge AA Batteries – And More – With A Portable Solar Panel ]

Food to Keep on Hand for a Winter Power Outage

Again, referencing that snowstorm in Texas that left people without power for weeks (and that’s just one example of many!)… Wouldn’t it be a good idea to have “at least” enough food in your house to feed the family for two weeks?

No need to get into how to do that, because it’s a no-brainer. Just get-er-done.

How to Cook Food During a Winter Power Outage

Although many foods do not require cooking, during a winter power outage there’s nothing like a hot meal during a winter snowstorm. What about heating up that percolator for a hot cup of coffee because your electric drip coffee maker won’t function? Or, hot chocolate anyone? How are you going to do all that during the power outage?

Butane Cook Stove

Well, if you have a gas stove, you’re already all set. But if you don’t, then what? Here’s one recommendation (I have one of these – even though I do have an LP gas stove/oven) (Great for other scenarios too).

GASONE Portable Gas Stove
(view on Amazon)

This portable butane stove will do the job. I like the fact that it’s flat and will support a heavy or fairly large pot, whereas some other portable stoves are upright and precariously support a pot or pan. This is one of the portable stove’s that I own, and I have been very happy with its performance.

Be sure to store extra butane fuel canisters — one canister typically lasts 1–2 hours depending on flame level.
(View butane fuel canisters on Amazon)

Be cautiously aware that any burning flame will put out some carbon monoxide. Butane though, like the one listed above, is safer for use inside. Still, use common sense.

[ Read: Single Burner Butane Stove Safer For Cooking Indoors ]

Coffee Percolator

How many of you have thought of this one… most coffee drinkers use ‘drip’ coffee-makers to make their coffee – which require electricity. So, to make that cup of coffee with a portable gas stove, you will need a percolator.

If you’re a coffee drinker, this one matters more than you think. No power = no drip machine. A stovetop percolator lets you make real coffee during an outage.

Farberware Classic Yosemite Stainless Steel Percolator
(view on Amazon)

[ Read: 10 Things People Will Miss Most Without Electricity At Home ]

Portable Radio for Weather and News

When the power grid is down, cell service and internet may also be unreliable. A battery-powered weather radio keeps you informed.

Here’s a suggestion. A dual-powered (AC and battery) weather alert radio that has a built-in AM/FM radio too. That way, not only will you get NOAA weather alerts, but you can also listen to local broadcasts of news and information. This will keep you up-to-date with what’s going on out there in the aftermath of the snowstorm and power outage. Important!

I have several. However I do like the Sangean CL-100.

[ Read: Best Weather Radio – The Reason I Switched Back To This One ]

[ Read: NOAA Frequencies and Weather Radio Station Near Me (Maps & List) ]

If you’re into radios, here are a few additional articles that may interest you:

Best AM Long Range Radio

Best Portable Shortwave Radios

Winter Power Outage Supply Checklist

• Backup heat source
• Generator + extension cords
• Carbon monoxide detector
• Warm blankets
• Stored water
• Non-perishable food
• Camp stove + fuel
• Flashlights & lanterns
• Battery weather radio

FAQ: Winter Power Outage Supplies

[ Read: Winter Survival Gear For Your Car ]