Survival guides · Shelter & Fire

Stay Warm Without Power

WHEN TO USE THISWinter outage. Indoor temperatures can drop dangerously within hours.

1. Shrink to one room

   • A small room, ideally inside and on the south side.
   • Fireplace or wood stove? That room.
   • Close every other door. Blankets over windows. Towels under doors.

2. Layer up

   • Several thin layers, not one thick one.
   • No cotton next to skin — it holds sweat and chills you. Wool and fleece stay warm damp.
   • Cover head, neck and hands.

3. Get off the floor

   • Rugs, cardboard, blankets or pads under you.
   • Sleeping on the ground? 8–10 inches of material.
   • Insulation under you beats blankets on top.

4. Heat safely

   • Fireplace, wood stove, or a kerosene heater rated for indoor use — with ventilation.
   • NEVER indoors: gas oven, charcoal grill, propane heater, camp stove. Carbon monoxide kills silently.
   • Huddle together.
   • Hot water in sealed bottles in your sleeping bag lasts hours.

Sources: FEMA / Ready.gov Winter Storm Safety · CDC Cold Weather Safety

General information to help in an emergency — not a substitute for training or professional care.