Anticipating a Winter Power Outage? 12 Things to Do Right Now So You Aren’t Left in the Cold

Power outages are all too common. In some places, they are an inevitable part of winter. Ensure your safety and comfort by learning how to prepare for winter power outages.

We spoke to energy and preparedness experts to help you prepare for upcoming winter power outages.

Stock Emergency Food

“A decent supply of non-perishables is always good to have,” says Christian Schauf, CEO of survival goods company Uncharted Supply Co. Schauf favors peanut butter, freeze-dried meals, canned foods, soups, and nuts.

Purchasing foods that won’t need to be cooked or heated is vital during a power outage, adds Deborah Foley of Solar Reviews.

“If you have an electric stove or a microwave, you will not be able to use them during a power outage, making it difficult to heat or cook food.”

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Collect First Aid Items

Stay healthy during power outages with first aid items. The Red Cross recommends 20 essential items to create a four-person first aid kit.

Stock Essential Meds

Stock up on needed medicines, too, says Christian Schauf.

“If they need cooling, like insulin, you should have a backup plan,” Schauf says.

Whatever essential medicines you or others take regularly should be individually labeled. Cycle them out occasionally to keep them fresh. Speak to your doctor about obtaining extra medicines for emergencies.

Gather Portable Lights

Portable, battery-powered light sources help you find your way around at night. They’re safer and provide better illumination than candles.

Survival expert Hugh Simpson keeps a dozen flashlights fully charged at all times, including a lantern-style battery light.

Christian Schauf keeps a solar-powered flashlight on his window sill.

“This is an easy way to ensure you have light and that it’s charged,” he says.

Store Backup Batteries

Make sure you have a very good supply of backup batteries on hand, Simpson says. You’ll want to store backup batteries separately from your regular stockpile of batteries that you use daily. 

Alkaline batteries such as AA, AAA, and others should be a staple in your home, says Cameron McDonald, VP of Merchandising, Planning & Inventory at Batteries Plus.

“Make sure that you have enough batteries, that they are fresh and not corroded, and that they can be easily retrieved when a power outage occurs.”

Purchase a Power Bank

A power bank ensures you can power up essential electronic devices during a power outage.

A power bank supplements the battery in your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. It connects to your device with a USB cord and simultaneously charges multiple devices.

Consider a Whole Home Battery

A whole home battery backup is a great alternative to a generator, especially when paired with solar panels, McDonald says.

“It recharges directly from solar panels, safely and quietly powering your entire home or critical circuits to ensure energy security.”

Purchasing a whole home battery is a significant investment. You’ll need to hire a licensed electrician experienced at whole home battery installations.

Maintain Your Generator

Keep your generator maintained and full of fresh fuel.

“If your generator uses gasoline, you should ensure that you only use fresh gasoline,” McDonald says.

Fuel degrades after about three months in storage. Propane doesn’t degrade like gasoline and can be stored for long periods of time.

Install Solar Panels

Prepping experts we spoke to universally recommend installing solar panels as a hedge against winter power outages. Solar panels with battery storage collect excess solar energy when grid power isn’t available.

“With battery storage, homeowners can store energy ahead or during these events to ensure they have electricity when they need it most,” says Deborah Foley of Solar Reviews.

Collect Warm Clothing

When the electricity goes out, your heating system might stop working, too. Electric and gas furnaces, heat pumps, baseboard heaters, and wall heaters are electric.

Have clean, warm clothing, thick blankets, and comforters on hand so you can layer up when your heating system stops working. 

Fill Gas or Charge EV

During a winter power outage, gas station pumps and EV chargers stop working. Your travel range will be limited to the amount of gas or level of charge.

So, at the earliest warning of a winter storm, top off all vehicles’ tanks with fuel. Put electric vehicles on the charger.

Practice for an Outage

Are you really prepared for a winter outage? If you think so, challenge yourself for one day.

Prep expert Hugh Simpson recommends shutting down the main breaker on your electric service panel for 24 hours and trying out your survival system and products. Choose a night when you don’t have work or school the next day.