Winter Storm Prep for Apartments

Most winter storm advice assumes a house: a garage, a basement, a woodpile, a driveway to shovel. If you rent an apartment, your situation is different. You have less storage, you share walls and hallways, and the heating may be controlled by someone else. The good news is that a few small changes go a long way. Here is how I would prepare, using guidance from Canada.ca and CDC.

Before the storm: small-space supplies

Canada.ca says the goal is to have enough supplies at home to last until conditions improve. In an apartment, think compact and stackable.

• Water. CDC asks for at least 1 US gallon (3.8 L) per person per day for 3 days. Canada.ca’s figure is about 4 L. For two people for three days, that is 6 gallons, or 24 L, which fits in a closet. My water calculator works out larger amounts.
• Food that needs no cooking. If your stove is electric, it stops with the power. See what food lasts without a fridge.
• Warmth. A sleeping bag or heavy blanket for each person, plus hats, gloves and a warm base layer. These double as everyday gear, so they earn their space.
• Light. Flashlights or headlamps and spare batteries. CDC suggests battery-powered flashlights or lanterns rather than candles.
• Charging. Charge phones and power banks when a storm is forecast.
• A carbon monoxide alarm. More on this below.

Under-bed boxes, the top shelf of a closet and the space behind the couch all work for storage. Keep water off the floor in case of leaks, and away from heaters.

Talk to your building early

A short conversation before winter can save a lot of worry later. Ask your landlord or building manager:

• What happens to heat and hot water if the power goes out?
• Is there a backup generator for elevators, hallway lights or the boiler?
• Where are the stairwells and exits, and are they lit without power?
• How will they contact tenants in an outage?

If someone in your home uses powered medical equipment or cannot manage stairs, tell the building manager now, and see my medical device power plan.

If the heat goes out: one warm room

CDC’s advice is to keep as much heat inside your home as possible. In an apartment, that usually means picking one room and making it the warm room.

1. Choose a room with as few outside walls and windows as you can. In many apartments that is a bedroom.
2. Close the doors to the other rooms. A rolled towel along the bottom of the door can cut draughts.
3. Draw curtains or hang a blanket over the window at night.
4. Layer up with hats, gloves and dry socks, and change out of anything damp.

If you have a working space heater and power, CDC says to keep it at least 3 feet (1 m) from drapes, furniture, bedding and anything else that can burn. Plug it straight into the wall, check the cord is not frayed, and follow the maker’s instructions.

The balcony rule

This is the most important part of this post for apartment dwellers.

Carbon monoxide warning. Generators, camp stoves, barbecues, charcoal, and kerosene or propane burners give off carbon monoxide, which you cannot see or smell and which can kill within minutes. Never use them indoors, or in a garage, basement, shed, tent or covered porch, even with doors and windows open. Outdoors, keep them at least 20 feet (6 m) from doors, windows and vents.

A balcony is right outside your windows and door, and often under the balcony above. It cannot meet the 20 feet (6 m) distance, and the exhaust can drift into your unit or your neighbours’. So in an apartment, a portable generator, a barbecue or a camp stove has no safe place to run. Canada.ca also says to install certified carbon monoxide alarms with battery backup in hallways and outside sleeping areas, and CDC recommends a battery-operated detector. Test yours before the storm.

Two more rules from CDC that matter in winter:

• Never use a gas range or oven to heat your home.
• Never run a car in a parking garage or any enclosed space, even to warm up or charge a phone.

If the alarm sounds or anyone feels dizzy, sick or confused, get everyone out into fresh air and call 911.

Pipes and water

Canada.ca suggests running a trickle of water to help keep pipes from freezing. In an apartment, ask your building manager first, since they may already have a plan. If a pipe does freeze or burst, tell them right away. My cold-weather pipes guide has more.

Neighbours

Apartment living has one big advantage in a storm: people are close by. Canada.ca suggests checking on older relatives and neighbours before a storm to make sure they have enough supplies, and helping anyone who needs it during the storm if conditions allow. CDC says to check on older friends and neighbours often to make sure their homes are heated properly. My guide to building a neighbour network gives a simple way to organise it.

When to go

If you cannot keep your home warm enough, leave for a friend’s home, a family member’s or a community warming centre. CDC says to go to a friend’s home or a community shelter if it is too hot or too cold. Listen for local announcements about warming centres, and follow official instructions.

More winter reading

• The full winter storm checklist, including frostbite and hypothermia signs.
• Lighting in an outage, for safe light without candles.
• Home fire safety, including alarms and escape plans.