Preparing for a winter storm in an apartment takes a different approach than preparing in a house. You don’t control the building’s heating system, you may live on a high floor with no elevator during a power outage, and you can’t fire up a generator on a balcony. But with the right supplies and a few smart moves ahead of the storm, you can stay warm, fed, and safe until it passes.
Stock Water, Food, and Medications Early
The American Red Cross recommends at least one gallon of drinking water per person per day. For a two-person household, that’s a minimum of six gallons for a three-day event, though the Red Cross actually suggests keeping two weeks of supplies at home for winter storms. In an apartment with limited storage, a few cases of bottled water tucked under a bed or stacked in a closet corner handles this without taking over your kitchen.
For food, focus on items that don’t need cooking or refrigeration: peanut butter, crackers, canned beans, granola bars, dried fruit, nuts, and canned soups you’d eat cold if necessary. A manual can opener is easy to forget and impossible to substitute. If you take prescription medications, fill them before the storm hits. Pharmacies close, roads become impassable, and delivery services shut down fast.
Protect Your Pipes From Freezing
Frozen pipes are one of the most common sources of apartment damage during winter storms, and a burst pipe in your unit can destroy electronics, furniture, and everything on the floor. You have two simple defenses: let your faucets drip slowly during the coldest hours, and open the cabinet doors under your kitchen and bathroom sinks. The drip keeps water moving through the pipes so it’s harder to freeze, and the open cabinets let your apartment’s warm air circulate around the plumbing.
Pay special attention to faucets on exterior walls, which are closest to the cold. If you’re leaving the apartment for any reason during a storm, keep the heat on and set the thermostat no lower than 55°F. If your building’s heat fails entirely, dripping faucets becomes even more critical.
Plan for a Power Outage
Power outages during winter storms can last anywhere from a few hours to several days. In a high-rise apartment, a prolonged outage means elevators stop working. Buildings with standby power systems are required to keep at least one elevator running for emergency use, but that’s for firefighters, not residents hauling groceries. If you live above the fifth or sixth floor, plan to shelter in place rather than go up and down the stairs repeatedly. Keep everything you need on your floor before the storm arrives.
A portable power station in the 300 to 500 watt-hour range can keep phones, tablets, and a laptop charged for several days. If you rely on a CPAP machine for sleep, a 1,000 watt-hour unit can run a typical CPAP in low-power mode for 80 to 90 hours. Charge all your devices and portable batteries to 100% before the storm, and switch phones to low-power mode early to stretch their life.
Flashlights and battery-powered lanterns are safer than candles in a small apartment. If you do use candles, keep them on a stable surface away from curtains and never leave them burning while you sleep.
Keep Your Food Safe if the Power Goes Out
A closed refrigerator holds a safe temperature for about four hours after the power cuts. A full freezer stays cold enough for roughly 48 hours, or 24 hours if it’s only half full, as long as you keep the door shut. Every time you open the door, you lose cold air you can’t replace.
Before the storm, freeze water bottles or fill zip-lock bags with water and pack them into empty freezer space. A fuller freezer retains cold longer, and the ice can later be transferred to your fridge to extend its safe window. Eat perishable items first: dairy, leftovers, and fresh meat. If your power stays out past four hours, move what you can to a cooler with ice on your balcony if temperatures are below freezing, but don’t leave food directly outdoors where animals or fluctuating sun exposure can spoil it.
Stay Warm Without Risking a Fire
If your building’s heat fails, a portable electric space heater is the safest supplemental option for an apartment. The National Fire Protection Association requires keeping space heaters at least three feet from anything that can burn: curtains, bedding, furniture, clothing, paper. Plug them directly into a wall outlet, never into an extension cord or power strip, and turn them off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
Layer your warmth strategy. Close off rooms you don’t need and hang blankets over doorways to trap heat in a smaller area. Wear layers of loose-fitting clothing, wool socks, and a hat indoors. Your body loses heat quickly through your head and feet. Sleeping bags rated for cold weather work better than regular blankets because they trap heat around your entire body.
Never use a gas oven, charcoal grill, or propane heater indoors. These produce carbon monoxide, an odorless gas that can be fatal in an enclosed space within hours.
Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector
Carbon monoxide risk rises sharply during winter storms because people turn to improvised heating. Even if you don’t use a gas appliance yourself, a neighbor in your building might, and carbon monoxide can travel through shared walls and ventilation systems. The EPA recommends placing a detector on each floor of your home, and if you only have one, put it near where you sleep. Make sure the alarm is loud enough to wake you.
Battery-powered detectors are inexpensive and available at any hardware store. Test the batteries before storm season and replace them at least once a year.
Know What Your Landlord Owes You
If your building’s heating system fails during a winter storm, most states require your landlord to restore heat within a reasonable timeframe, typically 24 to 72 hours depending on the jurisdiction. Heat is generally considered an essential service under habitability laws, and prolonged failure can entitle you to remedies like rent reduction or the right to arrange temporary housing at the landlord’s expense.
If you have renters insurance, check whether your policy includes coverage for additional living expenses. This provision, sometimes called “loss of use” coverage, can reimburse you for hotel stays, meals, and other costs if your apartment becomes uninhabitable due to storm damage. Save every receipt. Document damage with photos before you clean up, and report it to both your landlord and your insurance company promptly.
Build a Go-Bag in Case You Need to Leave
Sometimes the safest option is leaving your apartment, whether your building loses heat entirely, pipes burst, or local authorities order an evacuation. The Red Cross recommends a go-bag with at least three days of supplies you can carry. For an apartment dweller, that means keeping a backpack or small duffel ready with:
- Water and snacks: a few bottles of water and calorie-dense food like trail mix or energy bars
- Warm clothing: an extra base layer, hat, gloves, and wool socks
- Important documents: copies of your ID, insurance policy, lease, and medical information in a waterproof bag
- Phone charger and portable battery: fully charged
- Medications: at least a three-day supply of anything you take daily
- Cash: ATMs and card readers don’t work without power
Know where your nearest warming center or emergency shelter is before the storm arrives. Many cities open these in schools, community centers, or public buildings, and your local emergency management office or 211 hotline can direct you. If you live on a high floor, move the go-bag to your car or a ground-floor location before conditions deteriorate so you’re not hauling it down a dark stairwell.