Household Checklist
Winter Power Outage Checklist. Every item checked and current before the first freeze.
A winter power outage kit that sits in the garage from March to November is a winter kit that fails in December. This checklist tracks every item and every maintenance interval so the kit stays ready when temperatures drop.
3 ft
heater clearance from combustibles
100/yr
average CO deaths from generators
0 deg F
sleeping bag rating target
October
annual full kit audit month
Section 1
Carbon Monoxide Safety.
The carbon monoxide alarm is the single most important item in this kit. Without it, every fuel-burning item below becomes a lethal hazard. Non-negotiable.
Energy
- Install a battery-powered carbon monoxide alarm on every level
Section 2
Heating.
Indoor-safe propane heat with proper fuel supply and clearance. Never sleep with the heater running. Never refuel while hot.
Energy
- Get an indoor-safe propane heater with ODS and tip-over shutoff
- Store six 1-lb propane cylinders and a 20-lb tank adapter hose
Section 3
Sleep Warm.
Cold-rated sleeping bags solve the overnight heating problem without the CO risk of running a heater while sleeping.
shelter
- One cold-rated sleeping bag per person, rated to 0 degrees F or lower
Section 4
Power and Light.
Battery power for phones, medical devices, and brief refrigerator runs. LED lanterns for safe room lighting. A weather radio for storm updates.
Energy
- Portable power station (500 to 1,000 Wh) for phones, lights, and medical devices
- Two battery-powered LED lanterns for safe room lighting
- Battery or hand-crank NOAA weather radio
Section 5
Pipe Protection.
Insulation, the shutoff location, and the drip habit. The difference between a cold week and a flooded house.
shelter
- Foam insulation on all exposed pipes in basement, crawl space, and attic
- Locate and tag the main water shutoff valve
Section 6
Food and Water.
Three days of shelf-stable meals, a manual can opener, and stored water.
Food
- Three days of no-cook shelf-stable food and a manual can opener
- One gallon of stored water per person per day for three days
Gear
Essentials. Start here.
An indoor-safe propane heater and a reliable CO alarm are the core of this kit.
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