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Winter storm supplies for home and car

Get ready before the first big storm: a few days of supplies at home, a car kit, and knowing when cold turns dangerous.

Sources read Oct 30, 2026.

❄️ Shop the winter storm kitAmounts for your group, Amazon links, and a list you can save.

At home

  • Supplies for several days without power, including medicine and what your pets need.
  • Extra batteries for radios and flashlights.
  • Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms with battery backup. Test them.
  • Insulation, caulk and weather stripping to keep cold air out, and a plan to keep pipes from freezing.

From Ready.gov: Winter Weather.

In the car

  • Jumper cables, sand or cat litter for traction, a flashlight, warm clothes, blankets, bottled water and snacks.
  • An ice scraper and a car phone charger.
  • Keep the gas tank full.

From Ready.gov: Winter Weather and Ready.gov: Car Safety.

How to choose

  • Layers beat one big coat: base layers, wool socks, hats and gloves for each person.
  • Hand warmers need no power and fit in every coat pocket and the glove box.
  • Faucet covers and foam pipe insulation are cheap and quick to put on before a freeze.

Our tips.

During the storm

  • Generators and grills go outdoors only, away from windows. Never heat your home with a gas stove or oven.
  • Stay off the roads if you can. If you are stuck in your car, stay inside it.
  • Take it easy shoveling snow; overdoing it can bring on a heart attack.

From Ready.gov: Winter Weather.

Frostbite and hypothermia

  • Frostbite: numbness, white or grayish-yellow skin, skin that feels firm or waxy. Get to a warm room and soak in warm water. Don't rub it or use a heating pad.
  • Hypothermia: shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech or drowsiness. A body temperature below 95°F is an emergency.
  • For hypothermia, get to a warm room and warm the chest, neck, head and groin first. Stay dry under warm blankets.

From Ready.gov: Winter Weather.

Easy to forget

  • Medicine refills before the storm, and pet supplies.
  • If heating bills are hard to pay, the federal LIHEAP program may help.

From Ready.gov: Winter Weather.

Sources

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General preparedness information, not professional or medical advice. In any emergency, call your local emergency number and follow official guidance from local authorities.