topic Re: Last Minute Storm Prep Ideas/Lists in Community Chat

Last Minute Storm Prep Ideas/Lists

Laura14 — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:44:04 GMT

For those of us especially in the ice storm areas where we might be without power and heat for days (after the ice storm Atlanta isn't getting out of the 30s), I have scoured the internet and people have some really great ideas that were new to me and other things that could help us.

Please feel free to add. Someone may have totally forgot something that's an easy thing to do.

For those of us with cars, do not park under a tree or power line. Tree branches are going to be coming down along with the ice spears.

Take your Halo, car charger adapters for tech charging, ice scraper, and any other bags or coolers you think you may need out of your trunk. Your car may freeze shut and you can use the ice scraper to get into it, but not if the scraper is in your car.

NEVER throw boiling or warm water on your windshield or near glass to melt ice. You will explode the glass all over you and the car.

Have your snow shovel and other winter gear inside and not in anything that you may not be able to get into if it ices over.

You can not walk or drive on ice. Don't try. You don't want to slip and have to call 911 who may or may not be able to get to you.

For your tech and phones, put your phone in airplane mode once the power goes out. Most phones switch to data if they lose wifi and if you don't have a data plan or much of one, you want to save your allotment.

After your tech is charged, keep it warm or bundled. Cold depletes lithium batteries fast and you want to keep it charged up.

Charge devices off of your car battery with a car adapter if your car is safe to get to.

For household needs and heat retention:

Wrap pipes and open cabinets to keep pipes warm. Drip faucets. Cover outside faucets with covers or shut off water to these areas.

Fill the tub with water to flush, if necessary. Or have a stock of wet wipes and toss in trash if not flushable.

Migrate to one small room and close the door to retain heat. You might want to prep a room with a heater so you can have a warm room ready and stay warmer longer.

Close curtains and blinds to retain heat. Make sure all drafts are covered with towels. Can also use sheets or blankets over windows to keep heat indoors.

Making a pillow fort to retain heat was also a suggestion and fun.

Some other adds:

Check your Kindle, if you plan to read. I thought most of my books were downloaded onto the device. Several were not. You need wifi for that.

Also, if you have an exercise streaming service, check if you can download several of the classes or videos to do them without needing wifi.

Do your laundry, sweep, run dishwasher or any other chores that run on electricity before the storm.

Don't forget to charge your electric toothbrushes, razors, or any other personal item that may need to be charged every so often.

You might want to make piles of easy grab and go like your toothbrush and toothpaste and floss together on the bathroom sink or your batteries and what they go to all together on the counter, so you're not fumbling in the dark for things or running a light longer than you have to. Matches or lighters with candles, etc...

Please add if you have some tricks you're using. I keep finding good advice from others as we wait.

Re: Last Minute Storm Prep Ideas/Lists

Travone — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 17:15:37 GMT

@Laura14 good tips for those that need them. This reminds me why I moved to the SW last year.

Stay safe and warm and stock up on enough olives.

Re: Last Minute Storm Prep Ideas/Lists

Blondie59 — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 17:20:00 GMT

Thank you @Laura14 , these are all great tips. One other thing I will be doing is getting some extra cash in the house. I remember learning that when Sandy took out power for weeks.

Re: Last Minute Storm Prep Ideas/Lists

bmorechick — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 17:24:53 GMT

If you have a gas grill, make sure propane tank is full. You can still cook even in bitter cold, but stuff that doesn't take long. We just pulled ours into the screen porch yesterday just in case.

Re: Last Minute Storm Prep Ideas/Lists

gizmogal — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 19:08:28 GMT

Top off the gas tank in the car before extreme temps or massive snow.. If there is a power outage, gas pumps at gas stations without generators won't work. Have your car all fueled up to be ready until things get back to normal.

You want a full tank, also, because in extremely low temperatures there can be condensation forming in a half-filled tank. Full fuel tank keeps gasoline from getting "watered".

Re: Last Minute Storm Prep Ideas/Lists

occasionalrain — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 19:33:36 GMT

Know where the water shut-off is to your house to avoid flooding if the water freezes and your pipe bursts.

Re: Last Minute Storm Prep Ideas/Lists

Zhills — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 19:45:00 GMT

One of the best things I ever purchased. Super bright! Inexpensive!

Re: Last Minute Storm Prep Ideas/Lists

FranandZoe — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 19:59:37 GMT

Very good tips all.

Mine is don't use candles. Too dangerous. Have power banks and/or battery powered lamps.

Keep your devices charged - even wireless chargers.

Another one I heard on the news yesterday was buy bags of ice and keep in a cooler - handy ifthe power goes out along with your fridge/freezer.

Stay safe everyone. And warm.

Re: Last Minute Storm Prep Ideas/Lists

Zhills — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 20:06:16 GMT

Your freezer will keep food for 4 days without electricity

if you don't open it!

Put ice in a chest and don't use the fridge! Leave it closed!

Have a manual/battery can opener.

Peanut butter is good!

Plenty of crackers and spreads!

Many cereals are very good dry!

Canned meat for sandwiches or snacks!

Re: Last Minute Storm Prep Ideas/Lists

Laura14 — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 21:58:42 GMT

Charge up your portable DVD player.

Make your last minute easy snacks. I did hard boiled eggs and I am roasting a big batch of savory almonds for the locknlock containers.

I am about to proof some dough for one final bread bake tomorrow am before it starts rolling in around 1pm.

I also placed my cooler bags by the fridge and turned on the ice maker to make a few more batches of ice while I can.

Refill the vitamin or med container. I usually do that on a Friday night, but that would have been difficult without good light. And I had to run to the storage pantry to replace one of the bottles.

Re: Last Minute Storm Prep Ideas/Lists

gidgetgh — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 22:02:07 GMT

Today I put water in a plastic drinking glass filled with water and froze it in the freezer. I'm going to put a quarter on top of it. If the power goes out and then comes back on and the quarter is still on top, your food should be good.

Re: Last Minute Storm Prep Ideas/Lists

Eileen in Virginia — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 22:08:21 GMT

@gizmogal wrote:
Top off the gas tank in the car before extreme temps or massive snow.. If there is a power outage, gas pumps at gas stations without generators won't work. Have your car all fueled up to be ready until things get back to normal.

You want a full tank, also, because in extremely low temperatures there can be condensation forming in a half-filled tank. Full fuel tank keeps gasoline from getting "watered".

A side effect of gasoline freeze is that it kills your battery. Your car's ignition is a huge drain on your battery. If you don't realize the gas line's frozen, you keep trying to start the car and drain the battery.

Re: Last Minute Storm Prep Ideas/Lists

Pink is happy — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 22:13:08 GMT

GidgetGH,

Freezer tip,

We do that too. Put it on the top shelf area. Top will be warmest in a thaw.

Bottom shelf is coldest. Top will tell you the answer.

Re: Last Minute Storm Prep Ideas/Lists

Laura14 — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 22:52:55 GMT

The quarter on top gave me the best idea. I just took my new locknlock canisters and filled them with water and placed them in the freezer. They can be used for the coolers as a large ice pack when the power goes out and keep the food fresh if I have to place my stuff outside at some point to keep it cold.

Which reminds me to go clear my patio and make sure that area is good.

Re: Last Minute Storm Prep Ideas/Lists

mrshckynut — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 23:32:38 GMT

@Laura14 living in the 4 season Midwest most of my life we are always prepared for storms and power outages no need to stock up

mrshckynut

Re: Last Minute Storm Prep Ideas/Lists

shoekitty — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 23:39:07 GMT

all I can say, is my true hope for all of you facing bad weather...STAY SAFE! It can be scary, it will hopefully pass soon! Keep safe and I wish you peace through all of it!

Re: Last Minute Storm Prep Ideas/Lists

Jo1313 — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 00:11:04 GMT

I won't use candles..to dangerous.

Keep a small flashlight near your bed so you can see your way to the bathroom.

If you have stubborn older people that insist on using a old battery flashlight..The ones that use 2 "D" batteries..Stand it up in a wide mouth tall glass.. Aim it to the ceiling.. it will give decent light to move around the kitchen.

I have those people!

Stay safe everyone..

Re: Last Minute Storm Prep Ideas/Lists

Effie54 — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 00:27:35 GMT

Oh boy, Connecticut is going to see 1"-18" of snow Saturday night into Monday. I'm so not looking forward to that. I like the 4 seasons, but we've already had enough snow. My husband said the stores were mobbed today (he went out early). I hope everyone is able to snuggle up and stay safe.

Re: Last Minute Storm Prep Ideas/Lists

Laura14 — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 14:37:07 GMT

I just downloaded a bunch of podcasts to listen to so I can use my tablets without wifi and have some conversation in the home.

I also turned up the heat a bit to preheat my space and then closed the bedroom door to keep it warmer for when the power goes out.

Re: Last Minute Storm Prep Ideas/Lists

Zhills — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 16:28:56 GMT

@Laura14 Warming it up is a great idea! Covering the windows will help also. Cling wrap, shower curtain, sheets or blankets at night!

Did you see the candle stoves?

Tea lights in a muffin tin to heat water and

a large candle with several wicks will work.