Snowstorm Knocked Your Power Out: Ways to Keep Warm

Sometimes is seems as if cruel, cold Murphy's Law takes over your house when you're snowed in by a heavy storm. Suddenly, the electric power goes off and you're left in the dark. Making it all worse, your home is heated by electricity, and you'll also have to deal with the chilly indoor effects of no heat.

If you'd taken some precautions before the storm hit, there are many ways you can fight the double trouble of darkness and cold in your house. Anticipating winter and the possibility of power outages, you should have emergency supplies already on hand. It should include a supply of extra blankets, firewood, flashlights, matches, candles, ready-to-eat foods and other items that will help you combat the darkness and cold.

If the outage happens in late afternoon or night, immediately place lighted, long-lasting candles throughout the house. Be sure they're not potential fire hazards. The safest candles are those placed inside glasses or cups, and not accessible to small children and pets.

For moving around the house during the blackout, have several flashlights and extra batteries available. For children going to or already in bed, provide each with a flashlight to help their feelings of security, as well as for roaming around and bathroom visits.

Stock your clothes closets and attic for these types of winter emergencies. All family members should have sufficient winter clothing, so that as necessary, they can wear them in bed and when moving around the house. For those who need to go outside into the snow to shovel or pick up the mail, make sure they're well-dressed for the tasks. Extra blankets can help everywhere in the house when the winter cold keeps lowering the temperature inside.

If there's a home fireplace, that site can become the comfortable family center for warmth, conversations, snacking and marshmallow roasting. If there's a DVD player available, family members can gather together to watch a selection of DVD discs.

For those who are health and exercise conscious, conduct a vigorous family work-out session near the fireplace. Then, if the blackout goes on into the night, the activity will help everyone to forget about the snowed-in inconveniences and get some well-needed sleep.

Power failures while being snowed in by a big storm can also be a warm opportunity for lovers. They can pass the time snuggling close together by the fireplace, while sipping some vintage wine and whispering promises of springtime to each other.