Winter Storm Preparedness: Home & Car Checklist

A snowed-in house at dusk with a shovel by the door and a snow-covered car

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A bad winter storm combines the two things that make emergencies dangerous: it knocks out power, and it makes leaving the house hard or impossible. Add sub-freezing temperatures and you have a situation where being unprepared is genuinely risky. This winter storm preparedness checklist covers your home, your car, and your body — before, during, and after.

Quick answer

Before winter: stock two weeks of water and no-cook food, a safe heat source with a carbon monoxide detector, warm layers and sleeping bags, and light and power backups. Winterize your car and build a car kit. During a storm: stay home, close off one room to heat, keep the faucets dripping to prevent frozen pipes, and never run a generator or grill indoors.

Home: before the season

Car: winterize and keep a kit

  • Check battery, tires (tread and pressure), wiper blades, washer fluid rated for cold, antifreeze, and keep the tank at least half full.
  • Car kit: wool blanket, warm clothes and boots, hand warmers, water and snacks, a winter car emergency kit, small shovel, ice scraper, sand or cat litter for traction, jumper cables, a flashlight, a first aid kit, and a phone charger.
  • If you’re stranded: stay with the car, run the engine about 10 minutes per hour for heat with a downwind window cracked, and keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow to prevent carbon monoxide buildup. Tie something bright to the antenna.

During the storm

  • Stay home. Most winter-storm deaths involve traffic accidents or overexertion outdoors.
  • Close off one room, hang blankets over windows and doors, and everyone sleeps together for shared body heat.
  • Let cold-water faucets drip and open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls to keep pipes from freezing.
  • Eat regularly and stay hydrated — your body burns fuel to stay warm.
  • Dress in layers even indoors; watch each other for shivering, confusion, slurred speech, or numb fingers and toes (early hypothermia and frostbite).
  • Shovel in short sessions, push rather than lift, and stop if you feel chest pressure — snow shoveling triggers heart attacks every winter.

Hypothermia and frostbite: what to watch for

Hypothermia: shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, slurred speech, drowsiness. Get the person to warmth, remove wet clothing, warm the core (chest, neck, groin) with blankets and skin-to-skin contact, give warm sweet drinks if alert, and call for help. Frostbite: white or grayish skin, numbness, a firm or waxy feel, usually on fingers, toes, ears, nose. Don’t rub it; warm it gradually in warm (not hot) water and get medical care.

After the storm

  • Clear snow from vents, exhaust flues, and around any fuel-burning appliance.
  • Check pipes for leaks as things thaw; know where to shut off the water.
  • Avoid downed power lines and don’t touch anything they’re contacting.
  • Check on elderly neighbors and anyone who lives alone.
  • Restock what you used before the next system moves in.

Common mistakes

  • Heating with a stove, oven, grill, or generator indoors. Carbon monoxide kills silently — the top winter-emergency mistake.
  • No carbon monoxide detector when using a fuel-burning heater.
  • Driving into a storm for non-essential reasons.
  • Letting the fuel tank run low so you can’t run the car for heat or reach safety.
  • Over-exerting while shoveling in the cold.

Frequently asked questions

How do I keep pipes from freezing during a power outage?

Let cold-water faucets drip slightly, open cabinet doors so warm air reaches pipes on exterior walls, keep the house as warm as you safely can, and insulate exposed pipes in unheated areas before winter. Know where your main shutoff is in case one bursts.

Is it safe to run my car for heat if I’m stuck in the snow?

Yes, in short bursts — about 10 minutes per hour — but only after clearing snow away from the exhaust pipe and cracking a downwind window. A blocked exhaust pipe pushes carbon monoxide into the cabin.

What is the safest backup heat source for a home?

An indoor-rated propane heater used with a working carbon monoxide detector and some ventilation, or a properly installed and maintained wood stove. Never use a kitchen stove, oven, charcoal grill, or portable generator for heat.

How much food and water should I store for a winter storm?

A two-week supply: one gallon of water per person per day and shelf-stable food that needs no cooking, since power and water service can be out for days and roads may be impassable.

What are the early signs of hypothermia?

Shivering, tiredness, confusion, fumbling or clumsy hands, slurred speech, and drowsiness. Move the person somewhere warm, remove wet clothing, warm the core of the body, give warm sweet drinks if they are alert, and seek medical help.

Should I shovel snow if I have heart problems?

Talk to your doctor first. Snow shoveling is strenuous and cold air constricts blood vessels, which is why it triggers heart attacks. If you do it, go slowly, push the snow instead of lifting, take breaks, and stop immediately if you feel chest pain, pressure, or shortness of breath.

Bottom line

Winter storms are survivable at home with a safe heat source, warm layers, two weeks of water and food, and a winterized car with a kit. The rule that matters most: keep everything that burns fuel outside, and keep a carbon monoxide detector where you sleep.

Related guides:

This article is for general informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Follow guidance from your local emergency management officials. Sources: Ready.gov “Winter Weather”; CDC “Stay Safe During a Winter Storm”; National Weather Service; American Red Cross.