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Winter Power Outages: Generators, CO Alarms and Food Safety
What to do and what to buy for a winter power outage: the outage checklist, sizing and placing a portable generator, and carbon monoxide alarms.
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Quick reference5 facts
| Fridge, door closed (USDA FSIS) | Food stays safe for up to 4 hours |
|---|---|
| Generator (CPSC) | Outside only, at least 20 feet from the house |
| CO alarms (CPSC) | On every level and outside sleeping areas, with battery power |
| Light (CPSC) | Flashlights or battery-operated candles, not candles |
| Never for heat (Ready.gov) | A gas stove or oven |
On this page (4 sections)
When a winter storm cuts the power, three things matter most: keep food cold by leaving the fridge and freezer shut, stay warm without using a gas stove or oven for heat, and keep carbon monoxide out. Run any generator outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, and have battery-powered CO alarms on every level.
The guides in this section cover the outage itself, the generator that powers you through it, and the alarms that keep everyone safe while it runs.
What to do when the power goes out
USDA FSIS says a closed refrigerator keeps food safe for up to 4 hours, and a full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours, or 24 if it is half full. Ready.gov says never to heat a home with a gas stove or oven. CPSC says to use flashlights or battery-operated candles instead of candles. Dress in layers and close off rooms you are not using. The winter power outage checklist covers food, light, warmth and what to throw out afterward.
NOAA weather radios with battery backup
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Size and place a portable generator
Champion Power Equipment’s sizing method adds the running watts of everything you plan to power, then adds the single highest starting wattage. Placement is a safety rule, not a preference: CPSC says to run a generator outside only, at least 20 feet from the house, with the exhaust pointed away, and recommends a model with a CO shut-off feature. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet. Portable generators for winter outages covers sizing, fuel and safe connections.
| Rule | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Outside only | At least 20 feet from the house, exhaust pointed away | CPSC |
| CO shut-off | Look for it when you buy | CPSC |
| No backfeeding | Never plug a generator into a wall outlet | CPSC |
Carbon monoxide alarms for storm season
CPSC and NFPA both advise a battery-operated or battery-backup CO alarm on every level of the home and outside each sleeping area. NFPA says to test them at least once a month. If an alarm sounds, get outside first, then call 911. Carbon monoxide safety explains placement, which alarm to buy and the warning signs.
Outage guides at a glance
The outage checklistFood, light, warmth and what to throw out afterward.
Portable generatorsHow to size one and where it can safely run.
Carbon monoxide safetyWhere CO alarms go and what to do if one sounds.Staying warm without the furnace is covered in the heating section, and the full storm plan in prepare.
Sources
- Keep Your Food Safe During Emergencies (last updated Aug 7, 2013)USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
- Power OutagesReady.gov (FEMA)
- As Winter Storms Threaten Millions in the U.S., CPSC Issues Safety Tips to Help Families Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and FiresU.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- What to Know About Generators and Carbon Monoxide (CO)U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- What Size Generator Do I Need?Champion Power Equipment
- Carbon Monoxide SafetyNational Fire Protection Association
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