Winter Storm Emergency Kit: What to Actually Pack
- What Goes in a Basic Winter Storm Emergency Kit
- Power, Light, and Staying Connected When the Grid Goes Down
- Food, Warmth, and the Items People Forget
- Don't Forget a Separate Kit for the Car
- Building a Kit for Seniors, Infants, and Anyone With Medical Needs
- The Carbon Monoxide Risk Hiding in Every Winter Kit
- Conclusion
- FAQs
A winter storm warning can give you a day or two to prepare. After that, roads may become dangerous and power outages can become more likely. Don't wait until the night before to shop for supplies. A winter storm emergency kit should cover the basics first, then prepare you for cold weather and a longer outage. Keep food, water, lights, warm clothing, backup power, medications, and car supplies ready in case you need to leave home.
What Goes in a Basic Winter Storm Emergency Kit
A winter storm kit should cover the things you'd need if you're stuck at home without power, heat, or a working way to get to the store. Start with enough food and water for everyone in the house, then add a few simple tools that still work when the electricity and internet don't.
Start With These Winter Storm Essentials
These are the basics to have ready before a storm makes a trip to the store difficult or impossible. Keep them together and easy to reach.
Water: FEMA recommends storing one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days. If you have room, keeping more on hand gives you extra breathing room if roads stay closed.
Nonperishable food: Stock several days of food that doesn't need refrigeration or cooking. Add a manual can opener if your supplies include canned goods.
NOAA weather radio: A battery-powered or hand-crank radio can keep you up to date on storm warnings and local conditions when Wi-Fi or cell service isn't reliable.
Flashlights and extra batteries: Keep at least one flashlight where everyone in the household can find it. They're a safer choice than candles during an outage because there's no open flame to worry about.
First aid kit: Include basic first aid supplies along with any personal items your household may need.
Multi-tool: A compact multi-tool can come in handy for small repairs or tasks around the house when normal tools aren't easy to reach.
Emergency contacts: Keep important phone numbers written down. If your phone battery dies, you won't have to rely on memory or an internet connection.
If you're also preparing for the possibility of a long power outage, this power outage emergency checklist covers many of the same basics while adding supplies specifically for losing electricity. Once the basic supplies are covered, power becomes the next concern. A winter outage can last for days, leaving you without lights, phone charging, refrigeration, or heat. Having a reliable backup power source can keep the essentials running until the grid comes back.
Power, Light, and Staying Connected When the Grid Goes Down
A charged power bank can keep your phone going for a day or two, but a winter storm outage can last much longer. Once the power stays off, you'll need a way to keep essentials such as lights, phones, refrigerators, and heating equipment running. A battery backup can cover those needs without adding fuel or exhaust to an already difficult situation.
Traditional gas generators also come with safety concerns, especially during winter storms, when people may be tempted to run them in a garage or too close to the house. That's why it's worth looking at safer alternatives to a gas generator before storm season. For households that want to keep more of the home running during a prolonged outage, a whole-home battery can provide much more capacity than a portable power bank.
Not every household needs whole-home backup. If you mainly want to keep a refrigerator, lights, phones, and a few other essentials running, a portable power station can be a more practical option. The DELTA 3 Max offers that flexibility in a smaller, easy-to-move system.
The DELTA Pro Ultra X is built for whole-home backup during a longer storm, while the DELTA 3 Max gives you a smaller, portable option for essential devices and appliances. But backup power only covers part of the problem. A few smaller items can still make a big difference when a winter storm hits.
Food, Warmth, and the Items People Forget
A winter outage brings a few problems that are easy to miss while you're focused on food, water, and backup power. The refrigerator can stop cooling, the house can get uncomfortable even if some heat is still running, and everyday errands may become difficult if local businesses lose power. Planning for these smaller issues ahead of time can make a long outage easier to manage.
Keep Food Safe During an Outage
A cooler and bagged ice can help keep perishable food cold for a while after the refrigerator stops running. An unheated garage may also stay cold during a winter storm, but it shouldn't be treated as a long-term replacement for a working refrigerator. If you're unsure whether food is still safe, check this food safety guide before eating it or throwing it away.
Plan for a Colder House
Extra blankets, sleeping bags, and warm layers can make a big difference if the temperature inside starts dropping. Even with backup power, a furnace may not keep every room at its usual temperature during a prolonged outage. Keep these items somewhere easy to reach, especially if bedrooms or other parts of the house tend to get colder.
Keep Some Cash on Hand
Cash is another easy thing to overlook. ATMs and card readers can stop working when the local power goes down, making it harder to pay for food, fuel, or other necessities. Keeping some cash with your emergency supplies gives you another way to pay if electronic payments aren't available.
Don't Forget a Separate Kit for the Car
Your home emergency kit won't help if you're stuck on the road. Winter storms can make a normal drive dangerous in a short time. Snow, ice, and poor visibility can slow traffic and leave you stranded. If you have to wait in your car, keep a few basic supplies with you. They can help you stay warm and visible while you wait for the roads to clear or help to arrive.
Keep a Few Winter Essentials in the Car
Keep an ice scraper, small shovel, jumper cables, and a warm blanket in your vehicle. Road flares or reflective triangles can also make your car easier to spot in poor visibility. Try to keep the gas tank at least half full during storm season. If you get stranded, extra fuel gives you more time to wait for help. When conditions allow, you can also use the engine to stay warm. For a more complete list, check this winter car kit. Your household may need a few additional supplies. Think about the needs of seniors, infants, and anyone who depends on medication or medical equipment.
Building a Kit for Seniors, Infants, and Anyone With Medical Needs
A standard winter storm kit won't cover every household. Seniors, infants, and people who rely on medication or medical equipment may need supplies that have to be available for several days, especially if roads are unsafe or local services are closed.
Plan for Medications and Medical Equipment
Keep at least a seven-day supply of prescription medication on hand when possible. Pharmacies may close or be harder to reach during a severe storm, so keeping necessary medication at home can help you avoid unsafe trips. If you rely on refrigerated medication or powered medical equipment, plan for backup power based on your specific needs.
Add Supplies for Infants
Babies need a few things that don't belong in a standard emergency kit. Keep enough formula, diapers, and other essentials for several days, along with a safe way to warm bottles if the stove or other normal kitchen appliances aren't available.
Make the Kit Easier for Older Adults
Older adults may be more vulnerable to cold-related health problems and may have difficulty moving around during an outage. Keep medications, warm clothing, blankets, and other essentials somewhere easy to reach. This senior outage kitcovers additional considerations for older adults in colder climates. One risk deserves its own section because it's easy to overlook when the priority is staying warm: carbon monoxide.
The Carbon Monoxide Risk Hiding in Every Winter Kit
Carbon monoxide is one of the easiest winter storm hazards to miss because you can't see or smell it. The CDC warns that exposure can happen without any obvious warning, which makes safe placement and use of fuel-burning equipment especially important during a power outage.
Keep Fuel-Burning Equipment Outside
Never run a gas generator in a garage, even if the garage door is open or cracked. Keep it outside and away from doors, windows, and vents so exhaust can't enter the house. The same rule applies to other fuel-burning equipment that produces carbon monoxide.
Check for Blocked Exhaust
Heavy snow can cover vents and exhaust outlets, allowing carbon monoxide to build up inside the home. After significant snowfall, check that outdoor vents remain clear before using fuel-burning heating equipment. Never leave a car running in an attached garage, even if the garage door is open. For more winter-specific safety advice, see this guide to carbon monoxide risks. Battery-based backup power doesn't produce combustion exhaust, so it avoids the carbon monoxide risk associated with fuel-burning generators.
Conclusion
Winter storms can disrupt power, heating, travel, and access to essential supplies. Preparing before severe weather arrives can make an outage easier to manage. Keep food, water, warm clothing, medications, lighting, and charging supplies ready. If your household relies on medical equipment or refrigerated medication, have a reliable backup power plan in place. A suitable battery system can also keep essential appliances running without producing combustion exhaust. Check your emergency supplies regularly and make sure your backup power source can handle the equipment you may need. With a little preparation, you can keep your household safer, warmer, and more comfortable throughout the storm.
FAQs
What should be in a basic winter storm emergency kit?
A basic winter storm emergency kit should have water, nonperishable food, and a manual can opener. Add a battery-powered or hand-crank weather radio, flashlights, extra batteries, a first aid kit, a multi-tool, and emergency contact information. Keep everything together in a place that's easy to reach if the power goes out or you need to stay home for several days.
How much water and food should a winter emergency kit have?
Plan for at least one gallon of water per person per day for three days, following FEMA's basic emergency guidance. Keep several days of nonperishable food that can be eaten without refrigeration or cooking, and include a manual can opener if you store canned food.
Do I need a separate emergency kit for my car in winter?
Yes. A car should have its own winter emergency supplies in case you get stranded before reaching home. Keep an ice scraper, small shovel, jumper cables, a blanket, and road flares or reflective triangles in the vehicle. Keeping the gas tank at least half full also gives you more options if a storm makes travel difficult.
How can I avoid carbon monoxide poisoning during a winter storm outage?
Keep generators and other fuel-burning equipment outside and away from doors, windows, and vents. Never run a generator in a garage, even with the door open, and check that snow hasn't blocked outdoor exhaust vents. Never run a car in an attached garage either. Battery-based backup power avoids the combustion exhaust that creates a carbon monoxide risk.
What's the safest way to keep power running during a winter storm?
A battery backup can keep essential devices running without producing combustion exhaust. A portable power station can handle phones, lights, and a refrigerator. For longer outages, a whole-home battery can support larger household loads.
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