Shrink to one room, layer right, and never bring outdoor heat sources inside — the winter power outage warmth strategy that held our bedroom at 55°F during Uri.

Never in the garage, always 20 feet from the house — the generator safety rule explained, plus what CO poisoning actually feels like and the 2025 update on standby generators.

A closed fridge holds 4 hours, a full freezer holds 48 — the exact numbers by food type, verified with a $12 thermometer.

What to do before, during, and after a power outage — the practical version, from a facilities manager who went six days without power in the 2021 Texas freeze.