A freezing rain warning means ice can bring down lines and trees. Here is what to do in the 24 hours before and in the first hours after an outage.
- Freezing rain coats lines and branches with ice and often causes long outages.
- In the 24 hours before: charge everything, stock water and food, and fill the tub if you are on a well.
- Stay away from downed lines and keep off the roads.
Freezing rain builds a layer of ice that can bring down branches and power lines, so outages can last days. Warnings give you a short window to act.
24 hours before
- Charge phones, power banks and your power station.
- Fill water containers (see how much to store).
- Set the fridge and freezer colder, and fill gaps in the freezer with containers of water.
- Gather flashlights, a radio, blankets and medication.
During the storm
Stay inside, away from windows and trees. Do not drive on icy roads. Assume any downed line is live and keep well away.
After the outage starts
Follow the hour by hour plan. Heat one room safely and never use fuel burning devices indoors. See the full ice storm guide.
Food
An unopened fridge holds cold for about 4 hours, a full freezer about 48 hours. See food safety.
Backup power picks (Canada)
Size the unit to your own load first: see the sizing guide.
Quick comparison
| Brand | Best for |
|---|---|
| BBLUETTI | Large lineup, expandable home systems |
| JJackery | Wide range, compact to home backup sizes |
Power stations and solar generators with fast charging. Compare capacity and warranty.
Larger capacity power stations that can run a fridge, with expandable batteries.
- Broad capacity range
- Expandable home-backup options
- Compare battery chemistry and stated cycle life
Popular portable power stations and solar kits for short outages.
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- Small, mid and large models
- Compare capacity, output and warranty on the maker page
Quick answers
What is freezing rain?
Rain that freezes on contact, coating surfaces and lines with ice.
How long can freezing rain outages last?
Anywhere from hours to days, depending on damage.
What should I do near a downed line?
Stay far away and report it to your utility or emergency services.