How to stay warm when the power goes out

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Shelter comes first in the rule of threes: in harsh weather, cold can become dangerous in hours, long before thirst or hunger. In Finton, the month gets colder every day, and a cold house hurts your whole family. Here is how to hold onto heat in real life. See Ready.gov's power outage guidance for more.

Safety first: never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gas, propane or charcoal device inside your home or garage, and never heat your home with a gas oven. Carbon monoxide can kill without warning. Keep generators outdoors and well away from windows and doors, and use battery-powered carbon monoxide alarms.

Pick one warm room

Choose a small interior room, or a room with a safe fireplace or wood stove, and move everyone there.
Close doors to the rest of the house and block gaps under doors with towels.
Hang blankets over windows and doorways. Close curtains at night and open them on sunny days.

Keep bodies warm

Dress in layers, with a hat, gloves and dry socks. Wet clothing pulls heat away fast.
Share sleeping space and use sleeping bags or extra blankets.
Eat and drink regularly. Your body needs fuel to make heat.
Watch for signs of hypothermia: shivering, confusion, slurred speech and drowsiness. Get medical help if they appear.

Backup heat, used safely

A properly installed wood stove or fireplace, with dry firewood stored in advance and the chimney cleaned.
Indoor-rated heaters only, used exactly as the manufacturer directs, with ventilation and a carbon monoxide alarm.
Keep anything that can burn well away from any heat source, and never leave a flame unattended.

Protect the house

Let faucets drip if pipes might freeze, and know where your main water shutoff is.
Keep the refrigerator and freezer closed to hold the cold as long as possible.

Practice it in Finton

In the game you board the windows, split firewood, keep the stove burning, and dress for falling temperatures. Let the house get cold and your family's health drops. It's a vivid way to see why heat comes first.

What is the safest way to heat a house without power?

A properly installed wood stove or fireplace, or an indoor-rated heater used as directed with a carbon monoxide alarm. Never use generators, grills, camp stoves or gas ovens to heat indoors.

How can I keep one room warm during an outage?

Choose a small room, gather everyone there, close it off, block drafts, cover windows with blankets, and dress in layers.

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