What to Do During a Power Outage in the Winter

You and your family deserve to feel comfortable and cozy in your own home. During a weather-related power outage, though, that can be difficult. Still, there are steps you can take to make the most of the situation during a power outage in the middle of winter. 

The good news is that you’ve come to the right place by reading this article. Detailed below is everything you need to know about what to do during a power outage in winter. 

There are plenty of valid reasons to get prepared in the unfortunate event of a power outage in your area this winter. Consider the following statistic regarding power outages throughout the United States. It indicates that since the year 2003, the number of power outages in the country has doubled. 

Make sure you and your family are properly prepared. Keep reading to handle a potential upcoming power outage with finesse. 

Stock up on Essentials Before the Winter

One of the first things to consider about a power outage is that of what you have on hand. As winter approaches, it’s in your best interest to stock up on essential supplies that could make a potential power outage more comfortable. 

Not only should this include items for sustenance like nonperishable food and beverages. In addition, you’ll need other basic supplies such as candles and batteries on hand. If you have electric or traditional lanterns, these can also be useful to see around the house when it’s dark outside. 

Plus, make sure your family members all have enough mittens, socks, ad gloves to stay warm during the power outage. Blankets are also a good idea since living without the modern convenience of central heat can be quite shocking. If you have a working fireplace, keep plenty of fuel throughout the winter, too. 

When the days start getting shorter and colder, take the time to go shopping for some of these essential items. You and your family will be grateful you did so when you’re prepared during an unfortunate power outage. 

What to Do During a Power Outage with Pets

Throughout most of the year, it’s understandable to keep your dogs outside on a consistent basis. After all, you’ve provided them with adequate shelters and doghouses to keep them safe from the elements. You might even have an outdoor cat to consider. 

In those particularly cold months, though, you might want to keep your pets indoors to protect them from the cold. This can already be a bit of a challenge before a power outage. 

Once there is a power outage, don’t forget to ensure your pets are staying warm enough, too. They might also need some extra blankets in their beds.

It’s also smart to keep a close eye on them during power outages, by the way. You don’t want them to knock over any candles or lanterns with burning fuel. 

It’s Worthwhile to Invest in a High-Quality Generator

One of the best things you can have during a power outage in winter is that of a reliable generator. That way, you really don’t have to live without power for too long. 

Shop around in your local area and online for the best deals when it comes to generators you and your family can rely on. The sooner you invest in one, the better. For a specific example, check out this generator for the home. 

Remember, you don’t want to wait until the last minute to buy your generator. If you do so once the power outage already hits your local community, a ton of other people will be shopping for generators in the store, too. Buy one well in advance to ensure you’ll have back-up electricity in the event of a power outage. 

Keep the Faucets Throughout the Home Dripping a Little Bit

If you’ve never gone through a serious power outage during winter before, you might not think about the possibility of your pipes freezing. When our home isn’t generating any heat throughout it, though, the water within the pipes can freeze before you know it. Soon enough, you don’t have any access to water in the entire home. 

For that reason, it’s in your best interest to keep the faucets running during the event of a power outage with freezing temperatures outside. Of course, it doesn’t have to be a full-blown running sink and bathtub. 

Rather, leave a light trickle of water running that won’t ruin your water bill at the end of the month. Even just a few drops of running water can keep your pipes from freezing altogether. 

Don’t Take Risks Driving During a Power Outage

The last key tip to remember during a power outage is to prioritize your safety at all times. Don’t take the chance of driving in the middle of a terrible storm.

If your community is experiencing a power outage, it’s likely that the street lights are not one, which can present a real danger when you’re driving. That’s yet another reason it’s important to stock up on essentials so you don’t have to leave the home in a winter power outage. 

 

Continue Protecting Your Family, Home, and Overall Quality of Life

At this point in the article, you have a thorough understanding of what to do during a power outage in the middle of winter. There’s no need to cut corners when it comes to ensuring you and your family are well-cared for. That’s why you’ll take the above suggestions seriously. 

Going through a power outage can at least bring you closer together as a family. It’s a chance to make the most of the experience and develop some quality family time. Doing so can even help you increase your overall happiness and quality of life. 

In fact, it can be in your best interest to continue investing in that happiness and security for your family. That’s where this website can perhaps come into play. 

For that reason, we encourage you to browse through the rest of our blog articles today. You’ll find the latest and greatest trends in home living and lifestyle habits. To start, comment below this article about how it inspired you and your family to prepare for this upcoming winter season.