How to Survive a Week (or More) Without Heat

When the power goes out during a winter storm and temperatures drop into the single digits, your home stops feeling like shelter and starts acting like a refrigerator. This isn’t about cozy winter tips or aesthetics this is about cold weather survival, especially for vulnerable families, children, people with disabilities, and older adults.

At Say Hello Threads, we believe in showing up for one another and sometimes that means sharing information that could truly keep someone safe.

If you’re facing days without heat, here’s what actually matters.

Rule #1: Heat a Person, not a House

Trying to heat an entire home without power is exhausting and ineffective. Instead, your goal is to create a warm micro-environment a small, insulated space where body heat can be trapped.

How to Create a “Warm Room”

Choose one room with:

The fewest windows
A door that fully closes
Fabric-heavy spaces (closets help!)
Avoid large, open rooms if possible

Seal It Off

Roll towels or clothing at door bottoms to block drafts
Tape blankets over windows (painter’s tape works well)
Hang blankets over doorways to create heat barriers
Place mattresses or couch cushions against exterior walls

Remember cold comes up from the floor.

Layer rugs, blankets, cardboard, or flattened boxes
Avoid tile or hardwood when possible

Layering for Cold Weather That Actually Works

Warmth comes from trapped air, not bulky coats.

The Best Layering System

Base layer: Anything dry (thermals, leggings, long sleeves)
Middle layer: Fleece, hoodie, or sweater
Outer layer: Wind-blocking (coat, rain jacket, or even a trash bag poncho in an emergency)

Don’t Forget

Hats or beanies (major heat loss happens here)
Two layers of socks
Gloves — or socks over hands

Important: Sweat will make you colder. Remove layers before sweating.

Set aside one dry sleep outfit and protect it don’t wear it while doing chores.

The Indoor Tent Trick (A Life-Saving Strategy)

This is one of the most effective cold-weather survival methods, especially for families.

Create a tent inside your warm room:

Use a pop-up tent
Drape blankets over a table or chairs
Hang sheets to lower the ceiling

Add:

Sleeping bags or blankets
Everyone sleeps inside together

Why it works: Body heat warms a small space far faster than a whole room.

Pro tip: Place an extra blanket over the tent (leave breathing space).

Safe Heat Sources (and Dangerous Mistakes to Avoid)

Never use indoors:

Charcoal or gas grills
Camp stoves
Generators
Non-indoor-rated propane heaters

Carbon monoxide is odorless and deadly. Symptoms include headache, nausea, confusion, and extreme sleepiness. If this happens, get outside immediately.

Safer Options

Fireplace: Keep doors closed to trap heat
Gas stove: Only short-term and never while sleeping
- Crack ventilation
- Keep children away
- Use a CO detector if available

Hot Water: A No-Electricity Heat Source

If you can heat water at all, use it strategically.

Fill a tightly sealed bottle or jar, wrap it in cloth, and place it:

Between thighs
On chest
At feet under blankets

No bottle?

Mason jar wrapped in fabric
Double-bagged freezer bags inside a sock

Warm drinks even broth help warm the body from the inside.

Food Is Fuel in Cold Weather

Your body burns more calories just trying to stay warm.

Focus on calorie-dense foods:

Peanut butter, nuts, trail mix
Granola bars, crackers
Tuna or chicken packets
Oatmeal
Soup, broth, ramen
Honey or hard candy for quick energy

Before bed, eat protein or fat to help generate warmth overnight.

How to Sleep Safely Without Heat

Nighttime is the most dangerous period for hypothermia.

Sleep in the warm room
Use the indoor tent
Wear hats and socks to bed
Put tomorrow’s clothes inside your sleeping bag

If intense shivering starts, warm the core immediately.

Never sleep in a running car inside a garage.
If warming up in a car, do so outside with clear ventilation.

Water Safety & Frozen Pipes

Prevent Pipes from Freezing

Open sink cabinets
Drip faucets slightly
Wrap exposed pipes
Shut off water at the main if needed

Drinking Water Prep

Fill bathtubs, bottles, and pitchers
If on a well, power loss may mean no water
Keep a separate drinking-water stash

Upgrade What You Already Have

No special gear required:

Sheet closest to skin, then blankets, then comforter
Cardboard under and behind you for insulation
Mylar emergency blankets help reflect heat (keep away from flames)

Power & Lighting Without Electricity

Charge battery packs early
Keep one phone in low-power mode
Download offline maps
Use flashlights or headlamps instead of candles

If candles are unavoidable:

Place in sink or deep pot
Keep away from kids and pets
Never leave unattended

Car Warming Plan (Last Resort)

Rotate warming shifts
Keep blankets in the car
Clear exhaust completely
Run heat 10–15 minutes at a time
Never sleep while it’s running

Medical Needs & Vulnerable Populations

Babies, Elderly & Disabled Individuals

Lose heat faster
May not communicate discomfort
Keep layered, hatted, and closely monitored

Hypothermia Signs

Uncontrollable shivering → then stopping
Slurred speech, confusion
Extreme fatigue

Act immediately if symptoms appear.

Medications like insulin must be kept from freezing store them close to your body.

Community Care Saves Lives

Cold emergencies are not meant to be handled alone.

If possible, gather safely into one heated home.
Check on:

Elderly neighbors
Single parents
Families in mobile homes

Kindness is preparedness.

Emergency Checklist

✅ Choose warm room
✅ Move bedding
✅ Store water
✅ Charge devices
✅ Seal drafts
✅ Prepare indoor tent
✅ Set aside calorie-dense food
✅ Blanket the car
✅ Locate water shutoff
✅ Test CO detector

Final Thought

If your home temperature drops into the 40s or lower, this is a serious health risk especially for children and vulnerable adults. Asking for help isn’t weakness. It’s care.

Stay warm. Stay connected. And always say hello to those who might need support.