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How to Prepare for a Winter Storm: Power, Heat, and Warm Layers

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No location-specific forecast is established here, so check your local weather service and emergency-management alerts for whether a storm is expected and what to do. For general winter-storm readiness, prepare for possible power and communication outages, know how to stay warm without creating a fire or carbon-monoxide hazard, and keep clothing dry.

Before a winter storm: prepare for outages

Winter storms can interrupt utilities and other services; outages may last for days, according to FEMA’s winter-storm preparation guidance. Make preparations around your household’s needs, and use current local alerts for the forecast and instructions.

  • Sign up for local emergency alerts and keep a way to receive updates if the power goes out.
  • Agree on how household members will contact one another if normal communications are disrupted.
  • Gather essential supplies suited to the people in your household, including any specific needs.
  • Keep a phone power bank or another compatible external power source charged. It can charge devices such as phones; it is not a source of power for a heater or household appliance.
  • Consider a battery-powered emergency radio, flashlight, and spare batteries so you can receive information and see during an outage.

Ready.gov recommends an external power source for charging phones and other devices during an outage in its preparedness toolkit.

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If the power or heat goes out

Keep warmth in safely

Close off unused rooms to concentrate warmth in the space you are using. Dress in layers and use blankets. FEMA also advises staying indoors and off the roads during a winter storm when possible; follow local instructions if authorities direct you to leave or take another action.

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Never use fuel-burning equipment indoors

Never run a generator, camp stove, charcoal grill, or gasoline- or propane-fueled heater inside your home, garage, or another enclosed space. These devices can cause fire, electric shock, or deadly carbon-monoxide poisoning. Do not use a cooktop or oven to heat your home. FEMA’s winter-storm guidance and August 2024 winter-storm hazard sheet advise that generators and grills be used outdoors only.

Have working battery-powered or battery-backed carbon-monoxide and smoke alarms. An alarm is an important warning device, but it does not make indoor use of a generator or other fuel-burning equipment safe.

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What “underwear” means: dry base layers

Think of the title’s “underwear” as the layer closest to your skin. FEMA’s general advice is to dress in layers, stay dry, limit time outdoors, and use blankets. Choose clean, dry base layers and have a dry change available if clothing gets wet. The cited guidance does not specify a preferred fabric, garment construction, or brand, so there is no basis here to rank cotton, wool, or synthetic options.

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Stay informed as conditions change

Monitor local news and official emergency alerts for current information and instructions. The FEMA App, described by Ready.gov as updated October 29, 2024, can provide National Weather Service alerts for up to five locations and help users find a nearby shelter. Shelter availability and directions are local and time-sensitive, so rely on live guidance from local authorities.

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