Emergency Heat

Stay Warm During a Power Outage!

Even if you have oil or natural gas heat, your system may depend on electrical parts. A disruption of electrical services could leave you without heat. Those who are most vulnerable to loss of heat are the ill, the elderly and small children.

Photo courtesy of Ilya Katsnelson

Plan Ahead to Stay Warm

Make sure that you have extra blankets, sleeping bags, etc. When the power goes off, you won't be able to run out to the store to get additional bedding. This will be especially so, if there is a pandemic and you have been quarantined to your home.

Alternative Sources of Emergency Heat

Coal or wood stove

These both require an external chimney or pipe that rises above the highest peak of your roof--in order to assure that you will have a good "draft". The draft pulls the air up the chimney, taking the smoke from your room and making sure that your wood or coal will burn. Before you fire up a wood or coal stove, make sure that the chimney is clean. The buildup of creosote in chimneys is a major cause of chimney fires.

Make or buy a log carrier to facilitate carrying wood. Don’t burn soft wood (like pine) or green wood (wood that hasn’t been dead long or hasn’t aged).

These woods will produce a caustic smoke that will irritate and/or damage sensitive nasal passages, bronchial tubes and lungs. They can cause serious illness or exasperate existing conditions. Keep in mind that irritated nasal passages will be more susceptible to viruses and bacteria.

Propane heaters

These “cabin heaters” are sometimes used on boats. If considering one of these, make sure it has an oxygen depletion sensor. The sensor will extinguish the flame and shut off the gas if the oxygen level in the room gets too low. Make sure that someone knowledgeable about propane does the installation. There are safety precautions that must be taken.

Generator for Emergency Heat and More...

Use your generator to run electrical appliances, including space heaters. Run your generator for short periods of time to cool your refrigerator and freezer, run your well, etc. Conserve your fuel, because you don't know when your electricity will come back on.

To avoid the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, make sure that you ONLY run your generator outside. They are NOT made to be used indoors (even in a garage), under any circumstances.

Kerosene Heater

Buy an extra wick and kerosene (store in a proper container).

Fireplace with insert

Without the insert, the fireplace will suck the warm air from the house, up the chimney. You will need wood.

If you will be burning wood, consider a chain saw to make the job easier. You’ll also need fuel oil, a file for sharpening and an extra chain. A bow saw is a manual alternative.

Make sure that you do have adequate ventilation if you are using an alternative source of heat. Buy a battery operated carbon monoxide detector now, and install it. There are some on the market that just plug into a regular electrical outlet.

During a flu pandemic or any other natural or man-made emergency or disaster, you may need to have emergency heat to keep your family warm. Most heating sources will become useless during a power outage. Make sure your family will stay warm if you have to live without electricity for a few days!

More on Pandemic Preparedness

More Survival Skills

Survival Cooking

Simple Cooking

Importance of Communication

Emergency Water

Emergency Water Purification

Water Conservation

Water Storage

Cooking Substitutions

Emergency Food Storage

Food Storage Containers

Sprouting

Keep Cool

Pandemic Flu Guide HOME - from Emergency Heat