UP Winter Blackout Survival: What Every Household Should Have Ready
- Search Marquette
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
When the grid goes down during subzero temps and white-out blizzard conditions, it’s not about convenience — it’s about staying alive long enough for roads to reopen and power crews to safely reach your area. In the UP, that emergency window can stretch from 12 hours to 72 hours or more, depending on wind, access, and temperature.
This is what people need before the lights go out.
1. Reliable Backup Heat (Safe for Indoors)
Home heating is priority #1 in the UP.
Best Options
Indoor-safe propane heater (Mr. Heater “Buddy” type; always use a window cracked 1 inch for ventilation)
Wood stove or pellet stove with a multi-day supply of wood/pellets
Kerosene heater (only if rated indoor-safe + carbon monoxide detector in same room)
Never rely on
Grills
Ovens
Camp stoves
Generators inside garages (These kill people every winter due to CO poisoning.)
2. Generator + Fuel + Safe Operating Setup
A small, efficient inverter generator is enough to run:
One space heater
A sump pump
Fridge/freezer intermittently
Lights & phone chargers
Store enough fuel for 24–48 hours of intermittent use
Use an outdoor-rated extension cord
Generator must be 20+ feet from the house, exhaust pointing away
3. Water Supply
Pipes freeze fast in UP outages.
One gallon per person per day for 3 days
Fill bathtubs for flushing (if outage seems imminent)
Keep pipe insulation on critical runs
Know where your main shutoff is in case a pipe burst
4. Food That Doesn’t Require Cooking
In deep cold, you don’t want to rely on stoves.
Recommended
Protein bars
Canned meats
Canned chili/stews
Peanut butter & crackers
Shelf-stable meals (MREs, backpacking meals)
Electrolyte drinks to prevent dehydration
5. Multiple Light Sources
Power outages are more dangerous in total darkness.
LED lanterns
Headlamps
Battery backups
Glow sticks (for kids/elderly navigation)
Always keep extra AA/AAA batteries in a sealed Ziploc.
6. Warmth + Insulation
If the furnace stops, your home will lose heat quickly.
Critical Items
Zero-degree or lower sleeping bags
Wool blankets (not fleece)
Thermal base layers
Hats, gloves, neck gaiters
Hand warmers
Door draft stoppers
Thick curtains or blankets to trap heat in one room
Pro Tip: Create a "warm room" — close off unused spaces and heat only one enclosed area.
7. Emergency Communications
When traditional networks are clogged or down:
Battery-powered NOAA weather radio
Power bank (10,000–20,000 mAh minimum)
Vehicle charger (your car becomes a survival tool)
Offline maps downloaded to your phone
A list of emergency numbers handwritten
8. Medical & First Aid
During blizzards, ambulances may be delayed.
Items to have:
First-aid kit
Prescription refills (minimum 7 days stocked)
Pain/fever reducers
Backup glasses/contacts
EpiPen or allergy medicines
A spare inhaler (if applicable)
9. For Babies, Elderly, Disabled, or Pets
These groups need extra attention during outages.
Plan ahead:
Extra formula, diapers, wipes
Mobility device batteries fully charged
Backup oxygen plan
Pet food + warm bedding
A neighbor call-check plan if someone lives alone
10. Vehicle Preparedness (in case you must evacuate)
Even though officials say don’t travel, emergencies happen.
Keep a “Get Home / Get Safe Bag” in every vehicle:
Snow boots
Mittens/hat
Thermal blanket
Kitty litter or sand
Shovel
Tow strap
Jumper cables
Phone charger
Snacks + water
Road flares or reflective triangles
11. Carbon Monoxide Safety
This deserves its own section.
Have and check:
A working CO detector with battery backup
A backup CO detector in the warm room
Ensure all vents (furnace, dryer, stove) are cleared of snow
During blizzards, snow drifts can plug exterior vents and cause CO buildup — even when the power is on.
12. Community-Ready Mindset
In the UP, survival is collective.
Encourage:
Checking on elderly neighbors
Sharing resources (water, heat, generators)
Joining local volunteer groups
Supporting warming shelters
Using radio scanners or local Facebook/NOAA updates responsibly
UP-Specific Realities
Roads may be unplowable for 12–48 hours
Winds can hit 45–60 MPH on Lake Superior shorelines
Temps can drop below zero within hours of a blackout
Travel bans may go into effect
Emergency response is triage-based — meaning if you get stuck, you may wait
So the safest place is home — if you’re prepared.
