Built for

# What to do when the power goes out in winter

This page covers what to do when the power goes out in winter, using official guidance on heat, pipes, carbon monoxide and food, and shows how the device gives you those steps with no signal.

Last updated November 9, 2026

## What should I do right away when the power goes out in winter?

Stay home if you can, keep warm, and keep fridge and freezer doors closed. Close off rooms you do not need. Never heat your home with an oven or stove. Gather your flashlight, blankets and a way to charge your phone.

1. Keep the cold out

   Close off unneeded rooms to save heat. Stuff towels or rags in cracks under doors. ([NWS](https://www.weather.gov/safety/winter-during))

2. Layer up

   Wrap up in extra clothing and blankets. ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/winter-weather/safety/stay-safe-during-after-a-winter-storm-safety.html)) Limit your time outside. ([Ready.gov](https://www.ready.gov/winter-weather))

3. Do not heat with the oven

   Never heat your home with a cooking oven or stove. It can cause carbon monoxide poisoning and fires. ([Red Cross](https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/winter-storm.html))

4. Keep the doors closed

   Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. ([Ready.gov](https://www.ready.gov/power-outages))

5. Check for warming places

   Ask local officials about heating locations open near you. ([Ready.gov](https://www.ready.gov/power-outages))

Ready.gov says a body temperature below 95 degrees is an emergency. If you are under a winter storm warning, find shelter right away. ([Ready.gov](https://www.ready.gov/winter-weather)) If you can reach 911, call.

## How do I keep my pipes from freezing?

Keep the house as warm as you can, let taps drip, and open the cabinet doors under sinks so warm air reaches the pipes. If pipes freeze, thaw them slowly with warm air from a hair dryer, never with a torch.

- Leave all water taps slightly open so they drip.
- Open the cabinet doors under the kitchen and bathroom sinks.
- Do not thaw frozen pipes with a torch. Thaw them slowly with warm air from an electric hair dryer.
- If pipes are frozen or broken, use bottled water or get water from a neighbor.

That is the CDC's advice for extreme cold. ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/winter-weather/safety/stay-safe-during-after-a-winter-storm-safety.html)) A hair dryer needs power, so with the power out, lean on the other steps and on bottled water. Keep a store of drinking water. The CDC says to store at least one gallon per person per day for three days, and to try for two weeks. ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/water-emergency/about/how-to-create-and-store-an-emergency-water-supply.html))

## How do I stay safe from carbon monoxide in an outage?

Run a generator outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the home, with the exhaust pointed away. Never use a generator, grill or camp stove inside. Keep a battery-powered carbon monoxide alarm. If it sounds, get outside and call 911.

- Never run a portable generator in a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or shed, even with doors or windows open. ([CPSC](https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Carbon-Monoxide-Information-Center))
- Use battery-operated or battery backup carbon monoxide alarms near every sleeping area. ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/carbon-monoxide/about/index.html))
- Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent carbon monoxide from building up. ([Red Cross](https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/power-outage/safe-generator-use.html))

If the alarm sounds or you feel sick

Get outside to fresh air right away. Then call 911. Do not go back in until responders say it is safe. ([CPSC](https://www.cpsc.gov/safety-education/safety-guides/carbon-monoxide/carbon-monoxide-fact-sheet)) Headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea and confusion are signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. ([CPSC](https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Carbon-Monoxide-Information-Center))

## How long does food last without power in winter?

With the doors closed, a refrigerator keeps food safe for up to 4 hours, a full freezer for 48 hours, and a half-full freezer for 24 hours. After 4 hours, move perishable food to a cooler with ice.

| Where the food is | Safe for, doors closed |
| ----------------- | ---------------------- |
| Refrigerator      | Up to 4 hours          |
| Full freezer      | 48 hours               |
| Half-full freezer | 24 hours               |

*The CDC says to keep a refrigerator at 40 F or below and a freezer at 0 F or below. ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/food-safety/foods/keep-food-safe-after-emergency.html))*

For anything that is borderline, use the official keep or discard chart at [FoodSafety.gov](https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/food-safety-during-power-outage).

## What should I do if I am stuck in my car in a winter storm?

Stay in the car. Run the engine about 10 minutes each hour with a window cracked open. Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow. Make the car easy to see. If you can reach 911, call.

1. Stay with the car

   The National Weather Service says you will get disoriented quickly in wind-driven snow and cold if you leave. The Red Cross says to leave only if help is visible within 100 yards. ([NWS](https://www.weather.gov/safety/winter-during)) ([Red Cross](https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/winter-storm.html))

2. Run the engine in short bursts

   About 10 minutes each hour, with a window opened slightly for fresh air. ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/winter-weather/safety/stay-safe-during-after-a-winter-storm-safety.html))

3. Clear the exhaust pipe

   Make sure snow is not blocking it. ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/winter-weather/safety/stay-safe-during-after-a-winter-storm-safety.html))

4. Be seen

   Tie a bright cloth to the antenna. Raise the hood once the snow stops. Turn on the dome light at night when the engine is running. ([NWS](https://www.weather.gov/safety/winter-during))

5. Stay awake and warm

   Wrap up in extra clothing and blankets, and huddle with others. ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/winter-weather/safety/stay-safe-during-after-a-winter-storm-safety.html))

Ready.gov puts it plainly: stay off roads if at all possible. ([Ready.gov](https://www.ready.gov/winter-weather)) Before any winter drive, tell someone your route. ([NWS](https://www.weather.gov/safety/winter-during))

## Where does a device that answers offline fit in a winter outage?

It gives you steps like the ones above when you cannot search for them. You ask in plain words, and it answers on the device with no internet. It does not heat the house or call for help. Keep it with the flashlight.

Winter outages can take the cell network down too. In Winter Storm Fern in January 2026, providers reported 10% of cell sites out of service in the affected part of Mississippi, as of January 26, 2026. ([FCC](https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-418220A1.pdf)) In the 2021 Texas freeze, more than 4.5 million people lost power, some for as long as four days. ([FERC and NERC](https://www.nerc.com/globalassets/our-work/reports/event-reports/february_2021_cold_weather_report.pdf))

Note

The FCC warns that a count of cell site outages does not necessarily match the service people have in that area. ([FCC](https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-418220A1.pdf))

- **Cold rating.** Operating temperature of -4 F to 131 F, per OUKITEL. ([OUKITEL spec sheet](https://oukitel.com/pages/oukitel-wp60-specs))
- **Its own battery.** 10,000 mAh, per OUKITEL. Searching for a signal drains a battery, so the NPS suggests airplane mode until you need the device. ([OUKITEL spec sheet](https://oukitel.com/pages/oukitel-wp60-specs)) ([NPS](https://www.nps.gov/articles/hiking-safety.htm))
- **A reference, not a doctor.** It can walk you through the cold-weather steps on this page. It does not replace 911.

What is on the device is listed on [what is inside](https://www.offgridone.com/whats-inside). Answers take time. How fast it answers: 24 to 57 seconds, measured on a development unit on November 11, 2026.

## What does it not do, and what should I buy instead?

It is not a way to call for help, and it has no satellite messaging. It is not a heater, a generator, a carbon monoxide alarm or a weather radio. Those are separate purchases, and the lists below say so.

| You need                              | Buy this                                                                                                                                                                 |
| ------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| A carbon monoxide alarm               | A battery-powered or battery backup alarm. ([CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/carbon-monoxide/about/index.html))                                                                 |
| Official storm news with no power     | A battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio. ([NWS](https://www.weather.gov/safety/winter-before))                                                                              |
| A way to charge phones                | A backup battery. The Red Cross says to have one. ([Red Cross](https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/winter-storm.html)) |
| A way to reach family with no network | A satellite messenger. [Compare them](https://www.offgridone.com/compare/vs-satellite-messengers)                                                                        |

Offline AI survival device

## OffGridOne

$999.99Estimated lead time: 1 week before dispatch.

[Order OffGridOne](https://wr20rx-ks.myshopify.com/cart/68008407826707:1)

Faraday bag included with every order.

In the box

- OffGridOne device
- Faraday bag

Full list of what ships in the box: \[\[OWNER: IN_THE_BOX]]

- Shipping

  Standard shipping is included with your OffGridOne order. Carrier transit time is additional to the estimated one-week lead time. [Details](https://www.offgridone.com/shipping-returns)

- Returns

  30-day returns from delivery. Buyer pays return postage unless the item is defective. [Details](https://www.offgridone.com/shipping-returns)

- Warranty

  One-year limited warranty from delivery, provided by OffGridOne (ArkNet Solutions Inc.). [Details](https://www.offgridone.com/warranty)

- Fees

  \[\[OWNER: SUBSCRIPTION_OR_ONGOING_FEES]] [Details](https://www.offgridone.com/faq)

## Questions people ask

### Can I use it to call for help?

No. OffGridOne is a reference, not a way to call for help. It has no satellite messaging.

If reaching other people matters most, a satellite messenger or a working phone is the better buy. See [how the two compare](https://www.offgridone.com/compare/vs-satellite-messengers). If you can reach 911, call.

### Does GPS work with no cell service?

Yes. A phone’s GPS receiver gets its position from satellite signals, which do not need cell service or internet.([GPS.gov](https://www.gps.gov/gps)) OffGridOne also has offline maps on the device, so you can see where you are.

If GPS is not available, it shows a best-known position with an uncertainty circle, and can give a rough fix from the stars or the sun, good to about 100 to 300 km. That is a fallback. A paper map is still the backup.([NPS](https://www.nps.gov/subjects/healthandsafety/trip-planning-guide.htm)) Read the [GPS guide](https://www.offgridone.com/guides/does-gps-work-without-cell-service).

### How do I charge it when the power is out?

It charges over USB-C at up to 33 W, per OUKITEL, so a power bank or a car charger with a USB-C output can charge it.([OUKITEL spec sheet](https://oukitel.com/pages/oukitel-wp60-specs))

If you charge a phone in a car, keep the car somewhere well ventilated, not in a closed garage, to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.([FEMA comm plan](https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2020-03/family-emergency-communication-planning-document.pdf))

## Sources

1. National Weather Service. [What To Do If You're Caught in a Winter Storm](https://www.weather.gov/safety/winter-during). Checked November 9, 2026.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [Safety Guidelines: During and After a Winter Storm](https://www.cdc.gov/winter-weather/safety/stay-safe-during-after-a-winter-storm-safety.html). Published August 25, 2026. Checked November 9, 2026.
3. Ready.gov (FEMA). [Winter Weather](https://www.ready.gov/winter-weather). Published November 3, 2026. Checked November 9, 2026.
4. American Red Cross. [Winter Storm Preparedness](https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/winter-storm.html). Checked November 9, 2026.
5. Ready.gov (FEMA). [Power Outages](https://www.ready.gov/power-outages). Published June 4, 2026. Checked November 9, 2026.
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [How to Create an Emergency Water Supply](https://www.cdc.gov/water-emergency/about/how-to-create-and-store-an-emergency-water-supply.html). Published June 27, 2025. Checked November 9, 2026.
7. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. [Carbon Monoxide Information Center](https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Carbon-Monoxide-Information-Center). Checked November 9, 2026.
8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning Basics](https://www.cdc.gov/carbon-monoxide/about/index.html). Published October 26, 2026. Checked November 9, 2026.
9. American Red Cross. [Safe Generator Use](https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/power-outage/safe-generator-use.html). Checked November 9, 2026.
10. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. [Carbon Monoxide Fact Sheet](https://www.cpsc.gov/safety-education/safety-guides/carbon-monoxide/carbon-monoxide-fact-sheet). Checked November 9, 2026.
11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [Keep Food Safe After a Disaster or Emergency](https://www.cdc.gov/food-safety/foods/keep-food-safe-after-emergency.html). Published November 24, 2025. Checked November 9, 2026.
12. Federal Communications Commission. [Communications Status Report for Areas Impacted by Winter Storm Fern, January 26, 2026](https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-418220A1.pdf). Published January 26, 2026. Checked November 9, 2026.
13. FERC, NERC and Regional Entity Staff. [The February 2021 Cold Weather Outages in Texas and the South Central United States](https://www.nerc.com/globalassets/our-work/reports/event-reports/february_2021_cold_weather_report.pdf). Checked November 9, 2026.
14. OUKITEL. [OUKITEL WP60 specifications](https://oukitel.com/pages/oukitel-wp60-specs). Checked November 9, 2026.
15. National Park Service. [Hike Smart](https://www.nps.gov/articles/hiking-safety.htm). Published June 13, 2024. Checked November 9, 2026.
16. National Weather Service. [Prepare! Don't Let a Winter Storm Take You by Surprise](https://www.weather.gov/safety/winter-before). Checked November 9, 2026.

## Keep reading

- [OffGridOne offline AI survival device: Price, what is in the box, shipping, returns and warranty, next to the buy button.](https://www.offgridone.com/offline-ai-survival-device)
- [What to do in a 72-hour power outage, hour by hour: An hour by hour plan for a 72-hour power outage: food and water safety, heat and cold, generators, phones and information. Built from official guidance.](https://www.offgridone.com/guides/first-72-hours-power-outage)
- [72-hour outage checklist: A printable checklist for three days without power, built from official guidance.](https://www.offgridone.com/72-hour-power-outage-checklist)
- [How to communicate when cell towers are down: What still works when cell towers go down: texts, Wi-Fi calling, 911, satellite SOS, radio, and a family plan. Plus what to do when nothing gets through.](https://www.offgridone.com/guides/how-to-communicate-when-cell-towers-are-down)

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Canonical page: https://www.offgridone.com/use-cases/winter-storms