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Winter Weather Emergencies
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Disasters

Winter Weather Emergencies

Severe winter storms bring extreme cold and hazardous conditions that require proactive planning to ensure safety and warmth.

Problems Caused by Severe Winter Weather

Winter storms can bring extreme cold, freezing rain, snow, ice, and high winds. These conditions can lead to several challenges, including:

  • Cold-related health problems: Including frostbite and hypothermia.
  • Household hazards: Fires and carbon monoxide poisoning from space heaters and fireplaces.
  • Transportation issues: Unsafe driving conditions on icy roads.
  • Infrastructure failure: Power failures and loss of communication.
  • Flooding: Potential floods after snow and ice melt.

How to Prepare

If a winter storm is approaching, take the following steps to keep yourself and your loved ones safe:

  • Create a disaster plan:
    • Keep important phone numbers, including health care providers, pharmacy, and veterinarian.
    • Establish a communication plan for your family.
    • Know how to access reliable information during the storm.
  • Prepare your home: Use insulation, caulking, and weather stripping to keep out the cold, and learn how to prevent pipes from freezing.
  • Gather supplies: Ensure you have enough resources to stay home for several days without power.
  • Heating safety: If using a fireplace or wood stove, have the chimney or flue inspected annually. Install a smoke detector and a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector.
  • Prepare your vehicle: If you must travel, carry an emergency car kit containing:
    • Ice scraper and shovel
    • Cat litter or sand for tire traction
    • Water and snacks
    • Extra warm clothing
    • Jumper cables
    • First aid kit with necessary medicines and a pocketknife
    • Battery-powered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries
    • Emergency flares or distress flags
    • Waterproof matches and a can to melt snow for water

Coping

If you do experience a disaster, it is normal to feel stressed. You may need help in finding ways to cope.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Frequently Asked Questions

Hypothermia is a medical emergency where the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Early signs include uncontrollable shivering, cold and pale skin, slow or slurred speech, and confusion or clumsiness. In severe cases, shivering stops, and the person may appear calm or unconscious. If you notice these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately and begin warming the person gently.
To prevent frozen pipes, keep cabinet doors open under sinks to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes. Let faucets drip slowly to keep water moving, as standing water freezes more easily. If you have a power outage, use battery-operated heaters or portable generators placed outdoors to maintain indoor temperature, and never use open flames or charcoal grills indoors to heat the house.
lways keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn, such as curtains, furniture, or bedding. Never use a space heater to dry clothes, and always turn it off when you leave the room or go to sleep. Ensure the heater has a tip-over switch and automatic shutoff feature, and install a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector on every level of your home to prevent poisoning from improper ventilation.
comprehensive winter car kit should include an ice scraper and small shovel, cat litter or sand for traction, a warm blanket, extra gloves and hats, water, non-perishable snacks, jumper cables, a first aid kit, a flashlight with extra batteries, a battery-powered radio, and emergency flares or reflective triangles. It is also wise to keep a small can of non-flammable lubricant for door locks and a basic tool kit.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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