The nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) is offering four focus areas with 20 tips to keep families safe, warm, and comfortable as freezing temperatures arrive.

1. Foam, Dome & Drip

• Insulate pipes exposed to the elements or cold drafts with insulating foam. For as little as $1 per 6’ of insulation, you can help prevent pipes from freezing and slow potential freezing during power outages.
• Place an insulating dome or other covering on outdoor faucets and spigots to reduce the likelihood of the water in your pipes freezing, expanding, and causing a costly leak.
• Drip faucets to reduce the build-up of pressure in the pipes. Even if the pipes freeze, you have released the pressure from the water system, reducing the likelihood of a rupture. If you are going out of town and suspect that temperatures will drop or a power outage will occur, turn off the water to your home and open all of the taps to drain the water system. This way, you won’t return to a frozen, soggy mess.
• Open cabinet doors so heat can warm uninsulated pipes under sinks and appliances near exterior walls.

More info: https://flash.org/mitigation/upgrade-insulation-for-pipes/

2. Keep Your Family Safe & Follow Food Safety Best Practices

• Never use candles or matches, as they pose a fire hazard. Maintain a supply of flashlights, batteries, hand-crank cell phone chargers, and solar-powered radios.
• Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water-repellent.
• If you are using a fireplace to stay warm, be sure the area is properly ventilated. Never use grills, camp stoves, propane heaters, or generators indoors or in garages. Install battery-powered carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home and near sleeping areas.
• Keep a supply of non-perishable foods, medicine, baby supplies, printed copies of essential documents, pet food, and have at least one gallon of water per person per day on hand.
• Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed. If the door is closed, the refrigerator will keep items for up to 4 hours. A full freezer will stay frozen for about two days, and a half-full freezer for about one day. When in doubt, throw it out. Discard perishable food that has been above 40°F for more than 2 hours.

More info: https://flash.org/how-to-build-a-disaster-supply-kit/ and https://flash.org/how-to-plan-for-a-power-outage-and-use-generators-safely/ 

3. Plan for Power Outages & Safely Use Generators

• Turn off any electrical equipment that was in use before the power outage, but leave one light on to alert you when power resumes.
• During a power outage, resist the temptation to call 9-1-1 for information. Use radios, online news sources, or social media channels for updates.
• Keep your car fuel tank at least half full, as gas stations rely on electricity to operate their pumps and may not have backup power.
• Keep extra cash on hand since an extended power outage may prevent you from withdrawing money from ATMs or banks.
• Use gas-powered generators only in well-ventilated outdoor areas. Always operate the generator outdoors and away from open windows and doors. NEVER operate it inside, including the basement, enclosed patio, or garage.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, such as only connecting individual appliances to portable generators.
• Don’t plug emergency generators into electric outlets or hook them directly to your home’s electrical system, as they can feed electricity back into the power lines, putting you and line workers in danger.
• Consider purchasing and installing a standby home generator with an automatic on switch.
• Volunteer to check on elderly neighbors, friends, or relatives who may need assistance during a power outage.

More info: https://flash.org/how-to-plan-for-a-power-outage-and-use-generators-safely/ and https://flash.org/smoke-alarms-carbon-monoxide-detectors-and-fire-extinguishers/ 

4. When Power Returns

• When power comes back on, it may come back with momentary “surges” or “spikes” that can damage equipment such as computers and motors in appliances like the air conditioner, refrigerator, washer, or furnace. Be sure to install a surge protection system that includes point-of-use devices and whole-house protection.
• When power is restored, wait a few minutes before turning on major appliances to help eliminate potential problems caused by sharp increases in demand.

More info: https://flash.org/how-to-plan-for-a-power-outage-and-use-generators-safely/