Storm & outage kit

Ready before the snow

Last February's blizzard dropped 20 inches on Bridgeport and knocked out power to more than 600,000 customers across the region. This page watches the next three days at home, tells us when to start prepping, and keeps our checklists.

Storm watch · FairfieldChecking…

Reading the next 72 hours of forecast and any National Weather Service alerts.

Levels are our own rule of thumb. Get ready means 6"+ of snow, gusts of 45+ mph, any freezing rain, or an NWS winter storm, blizzard or ice warning. Watch means 2"+ of snow, gusts of 35+ mph, or temps of 10°F or below. Full detail is on the forecast page.

Checklists

Checks are saved on this device. "Reset" clears the 48-hour, night-before and after-the-storm lists, and leaves the kit and car lists alone.

When the power goes out

Fridge and freezer

4 hrsFridge stays safe if the door stays shut
48 hrsFull freezer (about 24 hrs if half full)
  • Keep the doors closed. Every opening costs cold.
  • Throw out meat, dairy, eggs and leftovers that sat above 40°F for 2+ hours.
  • Snow is not a safe cooler: sun warms food in a cooler, and animals get into it.

Carbon monoxide

  • A generator runs outside only, at least 20 ft from the house and pointed away from windows. Never in the garage, even with the door open.
  • Never heat the house with the oven, stove or a grill.
  • After heavy snow, clear the furnace and dryer exhaust vents outside. Blocked vents push CO back inside.
  • Clear the car's tailpipe before starting it, and never warm it up in the garage.
  • If a CO alarm goes off, get everyone outside, then call 911.

Staying warm

  • Pick one room, close its doors, and hang blankets over the windows.
  • Dress in layers with hats. Sleep together in the warm room.
  • If the house drops into the 50s and the outage will last, go to a warming center. Call 211 to find the nearest one.

Pipes

  • Below about 20°F, let faucets on outside walls drip and open the cabinets under sinks.
  • Know where the main water shutoff is before you need it.
  • If a pipe freezes, warm it with a hair dryer, never an open flame. If it bursts, shut off the main.

Numbers to have handy

Gathered October 2026. Some come from older news coverage, so confirm them on the official sites when you get a chance.

Report an outage · United Illuminating1-800-722-5584Or text OUT to 839-884. Outage map and alerts at uinet.com.
Downed wires · fire · CO alarm911Stay at least 30 ft from any downed line and assume it's live.
Warming centers · help211United Way 211 lists open warming centers statewide, 24/7.
Fairfield emergency alertsText FAIRFIELDCT to 888777The town switched systems, so sign up again even if you had CodeRED. Reply with your zip code.
Parking bans · plowingfairfieldct.orgOdd/even-side bans are announced by Fairfield Police and on the town site before big storms.
Our snow gearSnow plan →The Ryobi shovel and blower plan, and which battery goes where.