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When winter storms lead to power outages, a winter survival kit becomes essential for your family’s safety and comfort. Freezing temperatures and unpredictable weather mean you must have reliable access to warmth, food, and necessary supplies.
Your winter survival kit should include at least three days’ worth of non-perishable food and water for each family member and backup power to help you stay warm and informed during winter blackouts.
Let’s jump right in and help you get prepared.
What Do You Need for a Winter Power Outage Survival Kit?
Correct preparation for a winter power outage is critical to help keep your family safe. As a rule of thumb, ensure you have at least 3 days’ worth of non-perishable food, water, backup power, and emergency supplies packed together in an emergency kit that can easily be accessed in case you need to evacuate.
A large bin works well for this purpose, so opt for ones with handles or wheels so they are easy to move around. Ensure that everyone in your family knows exactly where the emergency kit is stored, what it contains, and what to do in the event of an emergency.
1. Non-Perishable Food
Even in winter, food in your fridge can still go bad. You can start by eating the food in your fridge the first day, then move to frozen goods if the freezer is indoors and starting to thaw.
Still, in the event of an extended outage or during a winter storm where you may need to evacuate, you must have at least 3 days’ worth of canned and dried foods packed in an emergency kit.
Check your kit every 6 – 12 months and rotate the food out, putting it in your kitchen to be eaten and replacing it with new non-perishables with longer expiration dates so you don’t risk canned or other goods going bad from sitting in the kit too long.
If you don’t have a gas stove, ensure you have a small electric grill you can plug into your EcoFlow Portable Power Station to heat canned soups or cook noodles or other foods.
Don’t forget to have food for your furry or feathered family members, too.
2. Water
Keep enough water for three days for your entire family and your pets. Keep plenty of jugs filled with water, but it’s also a good idea to fill the bathtubs just in case your pipes freeze, which could leave you without water for longer than the blackout lasts.
3. Rechargeable LED Lanterns and Flashlights
Candles aren’t recommended during power outages because of the fire risk they present. Instead, rechargeable LED lanterns and flashlights are the best option. They use low power, and their lithium batteries last a long time, but they are also rechargeable using your portable power station. Then, you don’t have to worry about stocking up on batteries that can run out and leave you in the dark.
4. Keep Your Vehicle Fueled Up and Ready
In the winter, keeping your fuel tank nearly full in case you need to leave is a good idea. Additionally, winter conditions can be dangerous. If you don’t have snow tires, be sure to have chains that fit your tires in your trunk at all times, as well as emergency flares, jumper cables, a tire repair kit, and tow ropes in case of an accident.
5. First Aid Kit and Medicines
Ensure you have a complete first aid kit with plenty of wound bandages, gauze, tensor and triangle bandages, and disinfectant ointment. Also, ensure you are not running low on essential medicines like insulin and others that you, your family, or your pets may need during an extended blackout. It’s best to have all your medication so you are not forced to leave the house during a winter storm if you don’t have to.
6. Portable Heater
A portable heater is essential so you can move it around where you need it the most. The EcoFlow Wave 2 Portable AC is the perfect choice. Not only can you use it as an air conditioner in the summer, but it also doubles as a heater for winter.
It also lasts wirelessly for up to 8 hours on a charge and can be recharged with solar panels or any EcoFlow DELTA Series Portable Power Station.
7. Family Emergency Plan
Have an emergency plan for your family, including a list of all the local fire, police, health clinics, neighbors, or other numbers you may need. Everyone should also know where the emergency kit is, what to do when someone isn’t home, and how to communicate with them.
Staying at home is usually best, so plan a safe spot for everyone to meet in your home. However, in case of evacuation, be sure to have a backup meeting place in a public location and communicate that with every family member. Especially if you have young children at home, practice the emergency plan at least once or twice a year.
8. Cash
Keep some emergency cash on hand, about $500 if you can, as it will come in handy if you need to evacuate and your cards are not working.
9. Blankets and Warm Clothes
You should keep some spare blankets and warm clothes for each family member in your emergency kit. Also, keep spare blankets in your car in the winter if you need to travel.
10. Backup Power Source
A backup power source is critical for any electrical outage, but none more so than in winter. Without heat, your home can quickly become unsafe. However, staying home is always best as long as you have a heater to keep your family warm, especially for extended outages. You will need a backup energy source to run your heater. Fortunately, there are many options available.
The EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 has 4kWh of capacity, which is suitable for running space heaters. It can also be expanded to an impressive 48kWh to run even the largest homes with high energy needs for extended periods. You can recharge it at any time using solar panels.
For more versatile recharging options, the EcoFlow Smart Generator 4000 (Dual Fuel) has 3.2KW of output. It can run on gasoline, propane, or solar panels, so you will never run out of energy.
The Importance of a Backup Power Source
Safety
First and foremost, a backup energy supply can help keep you safe. During an extended winter outage during freezing temperatures, having access to a portable heater that you can run with your backup energy source could mean the difference between life and death for you and your loved ones.
You can also keep your lights and flashlights charged, significantly reducing the chance of an accident compared to stumbling around in the dark. Finally, anyone relying on electrical medical equipment will need a power supply to keep it running. Staying home is always safest, except during an evacuation or other emergency.
A power source at home means you don’t have to risk traveling in dangerous road conditions to find a community shelter.
Communications
Without power, your phone may run out of battery, and you won’t have any way to recharge it. With a backup supply, you may even be able to keep your internet going. Staying connected is essential so you can contact emergency help, stay current on how long the outage is expected to last, and monitor the weather conditions.
You should check for weather alerts in your area and look for local updates every few hours during blackouts.
Food Spoilage
You can keep your fridge and freezer running to prevent all your food from spoiling during an extended blackout. This will not only help ensure you don’t run out of food to eat, but it also will save you plenty of money compared to having to throw it all out and replace it.
Final Thoughts
Staying safe during a winter power outage always involves proper planning and preparation. From non-perishable food and water to emergency supplies and a reliable backup power source, each item in your winter survival kit is essential for ensuring your family stays safe.
The EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 is a robust whole-home backup power supply that can keep you and your family warm and safe, keep essential appliances running, and allow you to stay connected.
Now get prepared and stay safe, everyone!