Heat safely
- Space heaters need room. Keep them at least 3 feet from curtains, furniture and bedding. Use models that shut off automatically, and plug them straight into the wall. CDC
- Never heat with the stove or oven. CDC
- Fireplaces and wood stoves only if they vent outside. Burn only the fuel they're made for. CDC
- CO alarms and generators: use a battery CO detector, and keep generators at least 20 feet from windows, doors and vents. CDC
Cold injuries
- Frostbite: redness or pain first, then white or grayish-yellow skin that feels hard or waxy, and numbness. Don't rub it. Warm it in warm, not hot, water. CDC
- Hypothermia: shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech or drowsiness. Babies may have bright red, cold skin and very low energy. Below 95°F is an emergency. Warm the center of the body first. CDC
Pipes
- Let taps drip and open the cabinet doors under sinks. Thaw a frozen pipe with a hair dryer, never a torch or open flame. CDC
Driving
- Avoid icy roads, bridges and overpasses if you can. Tell someone your route and when you expect to arrive. CDC
- If you're stranded: tie a bright cloth to the antenna, run the engine about 10 minutes an hour with a window cracked, and keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow. CDC
Cut off by ice?The Storm Proof kit's medical encyclopedias cover cold injuries, and its offline maps show the roads around you without a signal.
The basic kit
Ready.gov's basic kit includes water (one gallon per person per day for several days), several days of food, a battery or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio, a flashlight, a first-aid kit, extra batteries, a whistle, a manual can opener, local maps, and a phone with chargers and a backup battery. Ready.gov NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts warnings around the clock from more than 1,000 transmitters. NWS
Sources checked November 8, 2026. This guide summarizes official advice and isn't a substitute for instructions from local emergency officials.