Your Ohio Winter-Storm Kit
Last verified: September 2026
In Portage County, winter is the season most likely to take the power out — an ice storm can down lines for days. Here's how to build a winter kit that keeps you warm, fed, and calm. Want a hand? Call (330) 200-8042.
Your Winter-Storm Kit, at a Glance
Here in Portage County, winter is the season most likely to knock the power out — an ice storm can down lines for days. A winter kit is your regular outage kit plus a few extras for cold, ice, and being snowed in: warmth, traction, a car kit, and a deeper supply. Ice storms bring the longest outages of the year, so build your winter kit for a multi-day stretch, especially if you're rural. There's a printable 29-page version up top.
Common Questions
1 What makes a winter outage different from other seasons?
Winter outages, especially from ice storms, tend to be the longest of the year, with hard travel and deep cold on top. A winter kit leans toward warmth, a deeper supply, and being able to stay self-sufficient at home for days.
2 What should I add to my kit for winter?
Warm blankets and sleeping bags, extra layers, hats and gloves, hand and foot warmers, ice melt or sand, a snow shovel, a winter car kit, and a deeper food and water supply — all on top of your regular outage kit.
3 How do I keep my pipes from freezing?
Keep a little heat in the house if you safely can, let faucets drip, open cabinet doors so warm air reaches the pipes, and know where your main water shutoff is in case one bursts. Watch pipes along outside walls closely.
4 Is it safe to run my car for warmth if I'm stranded?
Only briefly, and only with the tailpipe clear of snow and a window cracked. A snow-blocked exhaust can fill the car with deadly carbon monoxide. Stay with the car for shelter, and run the engine just enough to take the chill off.
5 How do I shovel snow without hurting myself?
Warm up first, pace yourself, take breaks, and push the snow rather than lifting it. Shoveling strains the heart in the cold, so stop at once and call 911 if you feel chest pain, shortness of breath, or dizziness.
6 What should be in a winter car kit?
A warm blanket, extra hat and gloves, a shovel and ice scraper, sand or cat litter for traction, hand warmers, water and snacks, a flashlight, jumper cables, and a charged phone. Keep the gas tank full and tell someone your route.
Would You Rather I Just Help?
Ohio winters are hard on the power, but a good kit makes them manageable. I'll help you build a winter kit and a plan sized to a long ice-storm outage — warmth, supplies, and safe heat. $99 flat for a visit, 30-day come-back-free.
Would you rather I just do this for you?
No shame in it — plenty of folks would rather hand it off, and that's what I'm here for. I'll come to your home, set it up right, and make sure it's working before I leave. Flat $99 per visit — no jargon, no upsell, and every visit is 30-day come-back-free.
Not a hardware job? I can often fix it remotely for $49 — a secure screen-share, up to 2 hours, that you watch the whole time and can end whenever (included free for $39/mo Support Plan members, and it counts toward the $99 if it turns out I need to come out).