- Dress warmly. Several layers of clothing provide better insulation than a single layer of heavier clothing.
- Move to a single room, preferably one with few windows. Ideally, this room should be on the south side of the home for maximum heat gain in the daytime. The room should also be shut off from the rest of the house.
- If you use an alternate heat source, be sure and follow operating instructions.
- To keep your water pipes from freezing, a small stream of water can be left on to prevent this.
Prepare an Emergency Kit

Winter Power Outages
Summer Power Outages
- Keep freezers and refrigerators closed. Wrap blankets around the appliances to provide extra insulation.
- Make sure you have bottled water and a supply of freeze-dried or canned food in your emergency kit to prevent dependence on your refrigerator.
- A barbecue grill is an excellent way to prepare food. A charcoal grill should always be used outside.
- Air conditioners should be turned off during power outages. Do not turn them back on for several minutes after the power has been restored.
- Dress comfortably, and use natural ventilation to keep your home cool.
- If the health of family members is a concern, stay with friends or family or go to a shelter.
- Your electricity supplier should be notified if you use life support equipment in your home.
