Winter Storms, Never Heat with a Gas Stove, Keep a Car Kit
In a winter storm, never heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven, and use generators and grills only outdoors and away from windows to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning; keep jumper cables, sand, a flashlight, warm clothes, blankets, bottled water and non-perishable snacks in your car, and keep a full tank of gas. Ready.gov also says to stay off roads if at all possible, and if you’re trapped in your car, stay inside.
This article follows Ready.gov’s winter weather page: what to prepare at home and in the car before a storm, what to do during one, the signs of frostbite and hypothermia, and how to use a generator safely.
Before the storm, get your home ready
Ready.gov explains (Ready.gov winter weather):
- Keep the cold out: insulate, caulk and weather-strip.
- Pipes: learn how to keep pipes from freezing.
- Alarms: install and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backups.
- Supplies for outages: gather supplies for several days without power, including medication, pet supplies and extra batteries for radios and flashlights.
- Alerts: sign up for your community’s warning system; the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and NOAA Weather Radio also send alerts.
- Heating costs: if you can’t afford heating costs, weatherization or energy-related repairs, contact the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for help.
Emergency supplies for the car
- What to keep: jumper cables, sand, a flashlight, warm clothes, blankets, bottled water and non-perishable snacks.
- Gas tank: keep it full.
During the storm
- Heating: never heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven.
- Generators and grills: use them only outdoors and away from windows.
- Driving: stay off roads if at all possible; if you’re trapped in your car, stay inside.
- Going outside: limit your time outdoors, dress in layers and watch for frostbite and hypothermia.
- Shoveling snow: avoid overexertion when shoveling snow or walking in snow, to lower the risk of a heart attack.
Signs of frostbite and hypothermia
- Signs of frostbite: numbness, white or grayish-yellow skin, and skin that feels firm or waxy, mostly on the face, fingers and toes.
- What to do for frostbite: go to a warm room, soak in warm water and use body heat to warm up; don’t massage the area or use a heating pad.
- Hypothermia: a body temperature below 95°F (about 35°C) is an emergency.
- Signs of hypothermia: shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness.
- What to do for hypothermia: go to a warm room and warm the center of the body first (chest, neck, head and groin); keep dry and wrap up in warm blankets, including the head and neck.
Using a generator safely
- Where to put it: keep the generator and fuel outdoors, at least 20 feet (about 6 meters) from windows, doors and attached garages.
- Carbon monoxide detectors: install working carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home; carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless and deadly.
- Keep it dry: don’t touch the generator or anything plugged into it if it’s wet.
- Extension cords: plug appliances in with heavy-duty extension cords.
- Refueling: let the generator cool before refueling; fuel spilled on hot parts can catch fire.
- Instructions: follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
For where to install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and how often to test them, see Smoke and CO Alarms on Each Level, Test Smoke Alarms Monthly; for an emergency kit that covers several days without power, see Emergency Kits, 1 Gallon of Water a Day Each, Food for Days; for getting official alerts on your phone, see Phone Emergency Alerts Are Free, Some Phones Need Them On.
What this article did not check
- How to keep pipes from freezing: Ready.gov’s page only says to learn how, and this article did not check the steps.
- LIHEAP eligibility and how to apply: this article did not check.
- Whether to run the engine or how to call for help if trapped in a car: the page doesn’t say, so this article doesn’t either.
Frequently asked questions
The power is out and it’s cold. Can I use the gas stove for heat?
No. Ready.gov says never heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven.
Can I put the generator in the garage?
No. Keep it outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages.
What if I get trapped in my car in a winter storm?
Ready.gov says if you’re trapped in your car, stay inside, and stay off roads if at all possible.
How low a body temperature makes hypothermia an emergency?
Below 95°F (about 35°C).
Sources and dates checked
All checked on 2026-10-31.
- Ready.gov, Winter Weather (page updated 2026-03-10):https://www.ready.gov/winter-weather