Guide, United States

Winter storm preparedness kit: what to have at home before the power goes out

How we wrote this: researched from the official sources listed at the end of the page; heating, carbon monoxide and cold-exposure content restates CDC, CPSC, NWS and Ready.gov guidance. General information only, not medical or legal advice. Last checked 1 November 2026.

Last reviewed: November 1, 2026

A winter storm preparedness kit is the set of supplies that lets your household stay home for several days without power: water, food, flashlights and batteries, a battery-powered radio, blankets and warm clothing, medications, and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup. Ready.gov tells households to gather supplies in case they need to stay home for several days without power, and the list below starts with heating and carbon monoxide safety, because the Texas health department's count of deaths from the February 2021 winter storm includes 19 carbon monoxide poisonings.

Holdline Provisions sells packs and gear for this, so we say so up front. The list comes from the official sources at the end of the page. The ready-made version is the winter kit, and you can build the same list yourself.

Be ready to stay home for several days without power

Ready.gov says a winter storm can last a few hours or several days. Pack for the longer end. The kit on one screen:

Water: one gallon per person per day for several days (Ready.gov).
Food: non-perishable food that needs no cooking or refrigeration, such as dried fruit, nuts and granola bars (National Weather Service), and a manual can opener.
Light: flashlights, and extra batteries for radios and flashlights (Ready.gov).
Radio: a battery-powered or hand crank radio, and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert (Ready.gov).
Charging: a cell phone with chargers and a backup battery or power bank.
Health: a first aid kit and each person's medication; the NWS adds extra prescription medicine and baby supplies such as diapers and formula.
Warmth: a sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person, clothing for your climate and sturdy shoes (Ready.gov).
Alarms: smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup, tested (Ready.gov).
Pets: extra pet food and a warm place for pets (NWS).

For the rest of the outage list, including the fridge and the medical items, see the full power outage emergency kit list.

Heating and carbon monoxide first

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that, in the CDC's words, kills without warning. These are the rules the agencies give, in their order of importance.

Never heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven. Ready.gov says this adds fire and burn risks and can damage the appliance. The CDC gives the same warning about a gas oven.
Generators and grills go outdoors. Ready.gov says to use generators and fuel outdoors and at least 20 feet (about 6 meters) away from windows, doors and attached garages. The CDC says never to use a generator inside your home or garage, even with the doors and windows open. The CPSC says one portable generator produces "the same amount of carbon monoxide as hundreds of cars".
Detectors on every level. Ready.gov says to install working CO detectors with battery backup on every level of your home. The CPSC recommends alarms on every level and outside sleeping areas, and says interconnected alarms are best.
Keep vents clear. The NWS says that once it is safe to go outside, you should clear snow from gas furnace vents.
Not in the garage. The CDC says never to run a car or truck in a garage attached to a house, even with the door open.

If you suspect CO poisoning, the CPSC says to get to fresh air immediately and call 911. The CDC says to call 911 or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. General information, not medical advice.

We do not recommend space heaters in this guide. If you use any heat source, follow the manufacturer's instructions and the agency rules above.

What happened in Texas, February 2021

This is a record, not a forecast. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) confirmed 246 deaths as winter storm-related across 77 Texas counties. It counted a death only when a medical certifier verified it, and it counted deaths that were directly, indirectly or possibly attributable to the storm. These are deaths attributed to the storm. They are not a count of any single cause, and we do not say the loss of power alone caused them.

The breakdown is worth reading slowly. Of the 246, 161 were extreme cold exposure injuries (158 hypothermia and three frostbite), 22 were motor vehicle crashes, 19 were fatal carbon monoxide poisonings, and 10 were fire-related. DSHS said the carbon monoxide deaths resulted from inappropriate use of generators, grills, heaters, vehicles running in enclosed spaces, and ice obstructing vents in gas-powered heating equipment. It also said the majority of deaths were among people aged 60 and older.

The Texas Comptroller adds the scale. Power blackouts spanned most of the state from February 15 to 18, and a University of Houston survey cited by the Comptroller found that 69 percent of Texans lost power at some point from February 14 to 20. Among those who did, the average outage was 42 hours, 31 of them consecutive.

The first step is small: check tonight that your carbon monoxide detector has battery backup and that it works.

Warmth and layers

Ready.gov says to wear layers of warm clothing and limit time outdoors, and to avoid overexertion when you shovel snow. The NWS gives these steps if your heat goes out:

Close off rooms you do not need, so you are not wasting heat.
Stuff towels or rags into the cracks under doors, and close blinds or curtains.
Eat and drink. Food gives the body energy to produce heat, and the NWS says to drink plenty of non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic fluids because cold air is very dry.
Wear layers of loose, lightweight, warm clothing, and remove layers to avoid overheating and sweating. The NWS notes that sweating could lead to a chill and hypothermia.

For blankets, sleeping bags and emergency blankets, any warmth rating is whatever the supplier documents on the product page. We make no claim beyond it.

Cold-exposure warning signs, from Ready.gov. A body temperature below 95 degrees is an emergency. Signs of hypothermia include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness. Signs of frostbite include numbness, white or grayish-yellow skin, and firm or waxy skin, and Ready.gov says not to massage the area or use a heating pad. The CDC calls hypothermia a medical emergency. Read Ready.gov's winter weather page for what to do, and follow medical advice. General information, not medical advice.

Food, water, light, radio and charging

Keep it simple: store water at one gallon per person per day, food that needs no cooking, and flashlights where everyone can find them in the dark. Keep the radio's batteries fresh, because Ready.gov specifically lists extra batteries for radios and flashlights. For phones, Ready.gov's kit list includes chargers and a backup battery. Our emergency radios page lists the radios we sell and the specifications the supplier documents.

Pipes and the house

Ready.gov says to prepare your home for the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping, and to learn how to keep pipes from freezing. It does not list the steps on that page, so read the Ready.gov winter weather page and your local utility's advice. The NWS also advises refueling heating fuel before you are empty, because fuel carriers may not reach you for days.

If you drive: the car kit

Ready.gov's winter page lists jumper cables, sand, a flashlight, warm clothes, blankets, bottled water and non-perishable snacks. Its car page adds flares or a reflective triangle, an ice scraper, a car cell phone charger and a map, and says to keep the gas tank well stocked, which also helps prevent the fuel line freezing in cold weather. Stay off the roads if possible.

If you are stranded, Ready.gov says to stay inside the car if you are trapped. The NWS says to stay in the vehicle, run the motor about 10 minutes each hour for heat, open the window a little for fresh air, and clear snow from the exhaust pipe so carbon monoxide does not build up. It also says to tie a bright cloth, preferably red, to the antenna or door. Before you leave, the NWS says to call 511 for road conditions. Every state offers it. See our winter car emergency kit guide and the winter car kits.

Help with heating costs: LIHEAP

Ready.gov says that if you cannot afford heating costs, weatherization or energy-related home repairs, you can contact the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). USAGov says LIHEAP can help you pay heating or cooling bills or get emergency services during an energy crisis. Eligibility is based on income, each state or territory sets its own requirements, and USAGov's help with energy bills page explains how to find your state or territory's LIHEAP office.

People, pets and neighbors

Ready.gov says winter storms put older adults, children, sick individuals and pets at greater risk, so write down what each person in your house needs, pets included. Ready.gov's page for older adults suggests building a support network of family, friends and others. Checking on a neighbor who lives alone, once it is safe to go outside, is our suggestion and not an official rule.

FAQ

How many days should the kit cover? Ready.gov says several days without power and gives no exact number. Our kits start at 72 hours as a minimum, which is our product choice and not an official rule.

What if I rely on a well pump? The official pages we opened for this guide do not cover running a well pump without power, so we give no instructions. Ask a licensed well or pump contractor.

Where do I find a warming center? Ready.gov says to check with local officials about heating and cooling locations open near you, and to go to a community location with power if the cold is extreme. The Ready.gov evacuation page says the FEMA app can show open shelters.

Next step

Get the winter kit before the next storm. It is the same list as above, packed once. There is no countdown here, because there is no sale to miss.

Sources and last checked

All pages opened on November 1, 2026. Page dates are as shown on each page.

Ready.gov: Winter Weather, updated March 10, 2026.
Ready.gov: Power Outages, updated June 4, 2026.
Ready.gov: Build a Kit, updated July 1, 2026.
Ready.gov: Car, updated March 12, 2026.
Ready.gov: Evacuation, updated March 20, 2026.
National Weather Service: Winter Safety, Home and Work and Vehicle kit.
National Weather Service: Winter Safety, During a Winter Storm.
CDC: Carbon Monoxide, last reviewed October 26, 2026.
CDC: Power Outage Safety, last reviewed August 26, 2026.
CPSC: Carbon Monoxide Information Center.
Texas DSHS: February 2021 Winter Storm-Related Deaths, December 31, 2021.
Texas Comptroller: Winter Storm Impact, Fiscal Notes, October 2021.
USAGov: Help with energy bills, last updated January 13, 2026.

The NWS winter safety landing page carried no preparation guidance, so we used its linked subpages. The LIHEAP page on the Administration for Children and Families site refused our request, so nothing here is taken from it. If you find an error, tell us through the contact page and we will check it against the source.