What should you do before winter arrives?
Make a list in autumn while the weather is kind. Check roofs, doors, windows, pipes, heating equipment and vehicles. Service your heat source and have chimneys and flues inspected by a qualified professional. Stock supplies and fuel, test generators and chainsaws, and check that snow removal equipment starts.
Ready.gov and the National Weather Service publish general winter weather checklists that you can adapt to your own place.
Keep a written list on the fridge of your fuel, battery and supply levels so you can check in a minute, and refill after every use.
- Service heating equipment and chimneys
- Test generators, snow equipment and tools
- Check roofs, doors and windows for leaks and drafts
- Fill vehicles and stock fuel safely
How do you prepare for a power outage?
Plan for at least several days with no electricity. Keep flashlights, batteries, a battery radio, blankets and warm clothing within reach. Have a way to charge phones. Know how to operate a well pump, gates and garage doors by hand if the power fails, and have a backup plan for anyone who depends on medical equipment.
Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or fuel-burning heater inside a home, garage or closed building, since carbon monoxide can kill. Install carbon monoxide alarms and check batteries. Follow the equipment instructions and local fire safety guidance.
Test your backup power setup at the start of winter, with a full run under load, so you find weak points while repair shops are open and parts are easy to get.
How do you keep water and pipes safe?
Pipes in unheated spaces can freeze and burst. Insulate exposed pipes, seal drafts, and know where your main shutoff is. During a deep freeze, a small trickle of water may help prevent freezing in some situations, but ask a plumber or your county extension office about what suits your system. Store drinking water for people, and plan for animal water that will not freeze.
If your well pump relies on electricity, think about how you will get water if power fails. Melted snow can serve for flushing and animals but should not be assumed safe for drinking without treatment.
What should you do about food, medicines and heat?
Keep a stock of nonperishable food that you can eat without cooking, plus a manual can opener. Refill prescriptions before a storm. Keep a thermometer in your refrigerator and freezer and know when food has been warm too long, using food safety guidance from your county health department or USDA.
Have safe backup heat and warm layers. Use caution with space heaters and fireplaces, and keep flammable items far away. Check on elderly neighbors and people living alone.
How do you prepare animals?
Animals need shelter from wind and wet, extra feed and unfrozen water. Fill feed storage before the storm and move hay close if you can do so safely. Plan how you will reach animals if drifts block you, and who can help if you cannot. Heated waterers and tank heaters need safe wiring and power backup, and extension offices can advise on safe options.
Young, old and thin animals suffer first. Provide dry bedding and wind blocks.
Know your own limits. If the storm is bad enough that reaching animals is dangerous, tell someone where you are going and when you will be back.
How do you stay safe when the storm hits?
Stay off the roads unless it is truly necessary. If you must travel, keep an emergency kit in your vehicle with blankets, water, snacks, a shovel, a flashlight and a charged phone. Tell someone your route. If stranded, stay with your vehicle and run the engine only as safely and briefly as safety guidance permits, keeping the exhaust clear of snow.
Limit time outdoors, dress in layers and watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia, such as numbness, confusion, shivering that will not stop or slurred speech. Seek medical help right away for these signs and call 911 for emergencies.
What should you do afterward?
Clear snow in small amounts and take breaks, because shoveling and heavy work can strain the heart. Check roofs and structures for heavy loads, and watch for downed lines. Report outages to your utility. Dispose of spoiled food properly and be careful with candles and fuel-burning devices as you wait for power to return.
Reach out to neighbors and share what you have. Rural communities often depend on each other long before outside help gets through.
Afterward, make notes on what ran short and what worked, so your next kit is better than this one.
Key takeaways
- Prepare in fall: service heat, test equipment, and stock supplies for several days.
- Never run generators or fuel-burning heaters indoors, and use carbon monoxide alarms.
- Protect pipes, stock water, and plan for animals' feed and unfrozen water.
- Stay off the road, dress warmly and check on neighbors.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Rural Farm Life Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.