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Heat, Power & Light Heat In colder climates, lack of heat can be life-threatening. If the power goes off, it is likely you will not be able to heat your home if you use electric or thermostatically controlled gas or oil heaters. If heat is cut off, your fireplace, or wood stove may act as an alternate heat source. Since heat circulation without fans is difficult, restrict yourselves to one or two rooms of the house and shut the doors on the rest. Consider installing a carbon monoxide detector. Make sure your fireplace is in good working order and has been inspected for proper operation. If necessary, have it cleaned. Try not to enter or exit the house from the room that you heat. Make sure there is adequate ventilation to prevent the buildup of carbon monoxide, other gases or smoke. Be prepared to relocate to a community shelter for warmth and protection during an extended power outage. Should you buy a generator? If your situation demands an uninterrupted supply of power, you might consider purchasing a generator. However, generators can introduce as many problems as they solve: They require fuel, which is difficult and dangerous to store. Storing large quantities of fuel could violate local safety ordinances. Generators are large, noisy, and they smell. Plan to run extension cords to the devices you want to power. You must match generator capacity to demand. Surge (startup) power for devices with motors--refrigerators, furnace blowers, and vacuum cleaners--must be accounted for. Be knowledgeable on all operation and maintenance procedures. Make sure that your generator installation meets local codes and approvals. Light Though not necessary to our physical survival, light is very important to our emotional health. You won't be able to light a room as brightly with alternatives to electric lights, but it won't harm your eyes to use subdued lighting. Light sources include candles in containers, hurricane lamps, flashlights, battery-powered camping lights, fireplaces, wood stoves, and light-sticks. Whatever light source(s) you use, be sure you have an adequate supply of fuel or batteries, and a fire extinguisher. Store where easily accessible, safe, and away from children and pets. Consider purchasing a solar-powered battery charger and rechargeable batteries. If you need light close to children (to change diapers, etc.), battery powered is by far the safest. Consider giving children their own small flashlights for fun and as a way to make them feel more secure, Back to the Preparing For Emergencies page.