How to Prepare Your Family for a Winter Storm
Preparing for a winter storm means being able to stay warm, fed, hydrated and reachable for several days without power or travel. That comes down to a safe heat plan, water and no-cook food, lighting and batteries, phone power and a radio, medications, and a vehicle kit — organized before the forecast, not after it.
Household supplies
- Several days of drinking water and food that needs no cooking
- Manual can opener, disposable plates and utensils if water is limited
- Flashlights or headlamps per person, plus spare batteries
- Battery or hand-crank radio for weather alerts and utility updates
- First aid supplies, prescription medications, and a written medication list
- Hygiene supplies and garbage bags
- Cash in small bills
A full category-by-category list is in the emergency kit checklist.
Heating considerations
Decide in advance which single room you would close off and heat, and gather warm layers, hats, sleeping bags and blankets there. Wool and synthetics keep insulating when damp; cotton does not.
Carbon monoxide is the recurring winter danger. Generators, barbecues, camp stoves, charcoal and outdoor propane heaters must never be operated indoors, in a garage, or near windows, doors or vents. Install and test CO alarms, keep exhaust vents clear of snow, and have fuel-burning appliances and chimneys serviced by a qualified technician. These points reflect published guidance from the Government of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, FEMA and Ready.gov.
Power outages
Winter storms and outages arrive together. Charge power banks and devices before the storm, know how to open an electric garage door manually, unplug sensitive electronics, and keep fridge and freezer doors closed. The full outage sequence is in power outage preparedness.
If anyone in the household depends on powered medical equipment, plan the backup ahead of time and ask your utility whether it maintains a priority restoration or notification list.
Food and water
- Keep water stored year-round; pipes can freeze and pumps stop without power
- Choose shelf-stable food you can eat cold, and rotate it into normal meals
- Freeze water bottles — they keep the freezer cold longer and thaw into drinking water
- Do not store water where it can freeze and split its container
See emergency water storage and emergency food and water.
Communication
- Sign up for local emergency alerts and know your regional alert system
- Keep a printed contact list; text rather than call when networks are congested
- Agree on an out-of-area contact everyone checks in with
- Keep a battery radio for information if cell service drops
Vehicles
- Keep the fuel tank or battery charge high before forecast storms
- Winter tires where conditions and local rules call for them
- Car kit: blanket, warm clothing and boots, food, water, flashlight, shovel, scraper, traction aid, booster cables, first aid kit, car charger
- Clear snow from the exhaust pipe before running the engine to stay warm, and only run it intermittently
- Postpone travel when authorities advise against it
Medications and essential needs
Keep prescriptions from running low in winter, know which medications need refrigeration and what you would do without power, and keep mobility aids, spare batteries and assistive devices accessible. Record allergies and conditions somewhere a first responder or a neighbour could find — see emergency contact and medical information.
Children
- Warm layers that still fit — check sizes at the start of each winter
- Formula, familiar foods, diapers and wipes as needed
- Books, cards or quiet games for a long dark evening
- Make sure they know the household plan and the out-of-area contact
Pets
- Extra food and water, bowls, medications
- Indoor space and bedding away from drafts
- Leash, carrier and records if you have to relocate
- Wipe paws after walks; road salt and ice melt irritate them
What to do before severe weather arrives
- Check the forecast and local alerts, and cancel non-essential travel.
- Charge phones and power banks; fuel vehicles and generators (generators outdoors only).
- Fill water containers and confirm you have several days of no-cook food.
- Bring in or secure anything the wind can move; clear drains and vents of snow and ice.
- Refill prescriptions and confirm medical backup plans.
- Test flashlights, radio and CO alarms.
- Remind everyone of the meeting place and out-of-area contact.
- Check on neighbours who may need help — older adults especially.
Keep your preparedness organized with PanPrep
Winter readiness fails quietly: dead batteries, expired water, a car kit that was borrowed and never returned. PanPrep tracks your household inventory by category and location, flags expiry dates before they pass, keeps a separate Vehicle kit and Power Outage kit, and gives you a readiness score you can check in November instead of discovering the gap in January. See how PanPrep works.
Official guidance
Winter safety recommendations above follow published guidance from the Government of Canada, provincial and territorial emergency management organizations, the Canadian Red Cross, FEMA and Ready.gov. During an actual storm, follow the instructions of your local authorities and utility.
Common Questions
What should I keep ready for a winter storm?
Several days of water and no-cook food, a safe heat source and warm layers, flashlights and batteries, charged power banks and a battery radio, medications, pet supplies, and a stocked vehicle kit in case you are caught away from home.
How do I heat my home safely if the power goes out?
Close off one room, use blankets and layered clothing, and only use heating appliances the way the manufacturer intended. Never run generators, barbecues, camp stoves or charcoal indoors or in an attached garage — they produce carbon monoxide. Keep a working CO alarm.
What should be in a winter car emergency kit?
Blanket, warm extra clothing and boots, food and water, flashlight, shovel, ice scraper, traction aid such as sand or a mat, booster cables, a first aid kit, and a charged phone with a car charger.
When should I prepare for a winter storm?
Before the forecast, not during it. Once a warning is issued, restock what you can, charge devices, fuel vehicles, fill water containers, and confirm your plan with everyone in the household.