WASHINGTON, DC — December 4, 2025
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has released new seasonal guidance to help individuals and families prepare for hazards associated with winter storms and extreme cold. According to FEMA, the informational update outlines practical steps for staying safe during periods of low temperatures, heavy snowfall, and storm-related disruptions.
In its guidance, FEMA emphasizes the importance of understanding local winter-weather risks by following official forecasts and paying attention to information from state and local authorities. The agency notes that preparation before and during extreme cold can help reduce risks related to frostbite, hypothermia, home-heating fires, and power outages.
The agency’s update details several clothing and safety recommendations for traveling or spending time outdoors in cold conditions. According to FEMA, individuals should wear warm coats, layer clothing, and protect exposed skin, particularly the nose, ears, fingers, and toes. The agency advises wearing sturdy, non-slip footwear to avoid falls on icy surfaces and carrying items such as extra clothing, blankets, or hand warmers when necessary. The guidance highlights warning signs of frostbite and hypothermia and urges people to seek warmth immediately if symptoms occur.
FEMA also addresses the risks of home-heating fires, noting that home heating remains one of the leading causes of household fires, with most incidents occurring during winter months. The agency recommends keeping flammable materials at least three feet away from heat sources, maintaining smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, cleaning buildup around heaters, and having chimneys and heating equipment inspected annually by a professional. Additional recommendations include plugging space heaters directly into wall outlets and ensuring electrical cords are in good condition.
In its winter advisory, FEMA explains that winter storms may cause power outages that disrupt communications, refrigeration, and medical equipment. The agency advises against using gas stoves or ovens to heat homes and recommends keeping refrigerators and freezers closed during outages to preserve food safety. FEMA encourages individuals to plan ahead for medications or medical devices that require power and to disconnect appliances to protect them from electrical surges when power is restored.
The guidance concludes with generator-safety recommendations. FEMA states that portable generators should only be used outdoors in well-ventilated areas at least 20 feet from homes, garages, windows, and doors. The agency warns against using generators in wet areas, refueling while engines are running, or placing exhaust near living spaces, as these practices increase risks of carbon monoxide exposure, fire, or electrocution.
All information in this report is drawn directly from the official winter-weather preparedness guidance released by FEMA.
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Sources
FEMA
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