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Blizzard emergency kit: stay warm, stay put, stay safe from CO

By the Plain Prepper editors. Updated 2026-10-15.

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Quick answer

A blizzard kit is built to stay home for several days without power: Ready.gov says to gather supplies for that, keep extra batteries for radios and flashlights, plan for medications and pets, and install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms with battery backup. Never heat your home with a gas stove or oven, and run generators and grills only outdoors. Keep a separate car kit with jumper cables, sand, a flashlight, warm clothes, blankets, water and snacks.

Home blizzard kit checklist

Item	Why, per Ready.gov
Water, one gallon per person per day	Drinking and sanitation for several days
Several days of non-perishable food	In case you are snowed in without power
NOAA Weather Radio and alert sign-up	Emergency alerts and warnings
Flashlights and extra batteries	Light during outages
Smoke and CO alarms with battery backup	CO risk rises with backup heat and generators
Medications and pet supplies	Each person's specific needs, and pets
Warm layers and blankets	Limit cold exposure

A family of four needs 12 gallons of water for three days at Ready.gov's rate. See our emergency water storage and non-perishable food items guides.

Before the storm

• Seal the house: Ready.gov suggests insulation, caulking and weather stripping, and learning how to keep pipes from freezing.
• Alerts: sign up for local warnings; Ready.gov names the Emergency Alert System and NOAA Weather Radio.
• Alarms: install and test smoke alarms and CO detectors with battery backups.
• Fuel the car: Ready.gov says keep a full tank of gas.
• Plan for help with costs: Ready.gov points people who cannot afford heating to LIHEAP.

Heat without carbon monoxide

• Never use the stove or oven for heat: Ready.gov warns it raises the risk of CO poisoning, fires and burns.
• Generators outdoors only: at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages, Ready.gov says, with working CO detectors on every level.
• Grills outdoors only and away from windows.
• Indoor-rated heaters: follow the maker's rules exactly; see our indoor propane heater and kerosene heater guides.
• Extreme cold: Ready.gov's power outage advice is to go to a community location with power if heat or cold is extreme.

Car kit for snow

• Ready.gov's list: jumper cables, sand, a flashlight, warm clothes, blankets, bottled water and non-perishable snacks.
• Stay off the roads if at all possible.
• If trapped: Ready.gov says stay inside the car.
• More detail: see our car emergency kit guide.

Cold injuries: know the signs

• Frostbite: Ready.gov lists numbness and white or grayish-yellow, firm or waxy skin on the face, fingers or toes; go to a warm room, soak in warm water and do not massage or use a heating pad.
• Hypothermia: a body temperature below 95°F is an emergency; signs include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech or drowsiness.
• What to do: Ready.gov says go to a warm room, warm the center of the body first (chest, neck, head and groin), and stay dry and wrapped in blankets; get medical help.
• Shoveling: avoid overexertion to reduce heart attack risk.

Staying put for several days

1. Medical needs: Ready.gov's power outage page says to talk to your medical provider about a plan for powered medical devices and refrigerated medicines.
2. Phones: Ready.gov's kit list includes a cell phone with chargers and a backup battery; see our 10000 mAh power bank guide.
3. Food safety: Ready.gov says to keep freezers and refrigerators closed and, when in doubt, throw it out; see our non-perishable food items guide for shelf-stable staples.
4. Warmth: wear layers, as Ready.gov advises when going outside, and keep blankets and sleeping bags handy; see our best sleeping bag for cold weather guide.
5. Limit time outside and watch for frostbite and hypothermia, Ready.gov says.
6. Inventory first: Ready.gov suggests listing the items you rely on that need electricity, so you know what to plan around.

What to look for when you buy

Questions people ask

What should be in a blizzard emergency kit?

Ready.gov lists supplies for several days without power, batteries for radios and flashlights, medications, pet needs, and CO and smoke alarms with battery backup.

Can I use my oven to heat my house?

No; Ready.gov says never heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven.

What should be in a car winter kit?

Ready.gov lists jumper cables, sand, a flashlight, warm clothes, blankets, bottled water and non-perishable snacks.

What temperature is hypothermia?

Ready.gov says a body temperature below 95°F is an emergency.

Sources

• Winter Weather, Ready.gov
• Build A Kit, Ready.gov
• Power Outages, Ready.gov
• NWR receivers: consumer information, National Weather Service
• WR120 NOAA Weather and Emergency Alert Radio, Midland
• C3010 and C3010-D carbon monoxide alarm user guide, Kidde
• Sealed battery carbon monoxide alarm with digital display C3010-D data sheet, Kidde
• Emergency Bivvy XL with Rescue Whistle, SOL (Survive Outdoors Longer)

Sources checked 2026-10-15.