The Appalachia region is currently facing a historic winter storm. For our communities around Murphy, Blairsville, and Blue Ridge, this isn’t just about snow on the ground; it’s about significant ice accumulation that can snap power lines and leave households without electricity or water for days. When you live in rural areas, you can’t always rely on a quick response from the power company. You have to be your own first responder.
This guide is designed to help you protect yourself in your house, your vehicle, and when you absolutely have to step outside.
Part 1: Protecting Your Home (The “Stay In” Strategy)
If the power goes out and you rely on electricity for heat and water, your home can become a freezer very quickly. Here is how to handle a long-term outage.
1. The Water Crisis: Well Pumps and Gravity Flushes
If you have a well, your water pump runs on electricity. No power means no pump.
The Bucket Hack: Fill several 5-gallon buckets and place them directly next to your toilets. You can flush a toilet without a pump by pouring about two gallons of water into the bowl very quickly. The weight of the water forces the “flush” through. This is much more efficient than trying to refill the tank manually through the back.
Preserving Pressure: Before the power goes out, fill every clean pitcher, mason jar, and pot you own with drinking water. Once the pump stops, the pressure in your tank will only give you a few more gallons. Use it wisely.
Drip the Faucets: Even if the power is out, keep your faucets open slightly if you have any residual pressure. Moving water is much harder to freeze. It prevents pipes from bursting as the house cools below 32 degrees.
Hot Water Tank Reserve: In a true emergency, remember your hot water heater holds 30 to 50 gallons of relatively clean water. Most have a drain valve at the bottom.
2. Heating Without a Heater: The Micro-Climate
When your HVAC system stops, don’t try to heat the whole house. It’s a losing battle.
The Indoor Tent: Set up a camping tent in the smallest room of your house (like a bedroom). The small space traps your body heat. Inside a tent, the air can be 10 to 15 degrees warmer than the rest of the room. If you don’t have a tent, build a “fort” out of blankets over a table.
Closing Off Rooms: Use towels or pool noodles to block the gaps under doors. Hang heavy blankets or even plastic sheeting over windows and doorways to keep the heat in one “survival room.”
Layer Up: Wear wool or synthetic layers. Avoid cotton if you get sweaty, as it will make you colder. Remember: “Cotton is rotten” in winter survival.
Safety Warning: Never use outdoor propane heaters, charcoal grills, or gas ovens to heat your home. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer and collects in enclosed spaces. If you use a wood stove, make sure your chimney was swept recently to avoid flue fires.
3. Food Safety: Freezer Thermal Mass
Rural neighbors often have freezers full of local meat. Protecting that investment is critical.
Freezer Tetris: A full freezer stays frozen for 48 hours. A half-full one only lasts 24.
Ice Batteries: Right now, fill every empty gap in your freezer with jugs of water. Leave an inch of space at the top so the ice can expand. As they freeze, they create “thermal mass.” If the power goes out, these ice blocks keep your food cold for much longer.
Group Your Food: If the outage lasts more than 24 hours, move the most expensive items (like beef and venison) to the very center of the freezer, surrounded by your new “ice batteries.”
Keep it Closed: Every time you open the freezer to “check,” you lose precious cold air. Leave it shut. If you need to know the temperature, use a wireless thermometer if you have one.
4. Power and Generators: The Back-Feeding Danger
Generators are great, but they can be deadly if used incorrectly.
No Back-Feeding: NEVER plug a generator into a wall outlet to power your house. This sends electricity back into the grid lines. It can kill a utility worker trying to fix the storm damage down the street. It’s not just a rule; it’s a life-or-death matter for the crews.
Placement: Keep your generator at least 20 feet away from the house. Exhaust can seep through windows or under doors. Rain and ice can also cause electrical shorts, so use a “generator tent” or a specific cover designed for operation in wet weather.
Appliance Priority: Don’t try to run the whole house. Prioritize the fridge, a single lamp, and charging devices. Heavy draws like space heaters will burn through your fuel too fast.
Part 2: Your Vehicle (The “Get Home” Strategy)
In the mountains, our roads are winding, steep, and often the last to be plowed.
The 4WD Myth: Four-wheel drive helps you go; it does not help you stop. On ice, everyone is equal. If you don’t have weight in the back of your truck, add sandbags or even bags of salt over the rear axle to improve traction.
The Car Kit: Keep blankets, a small shovel, a bag of kitty litter (for traction), and a portable phone charger in your truck. A candle and a tin can can actually provide enough heat to keep you from freezing if you are stranded, as long as you crack a window for fresh air.
Gas Tank Rule: During storm season, never let your tank drop below half. If you get stuck or stranded, that fuel is your only source of heat.
If You Get Stuck: Stay with the vehicle. It is much easier for rescuers to find a truck than a person walking in a whiteout. If you run the engine for heat, make sure your exhaust pipe is clear of snow. If it’s blocked, carbon monoxide will fill the cabin. Run the engine for 10 minutes every hour to save fuel.
Part 3: Outdoors (The “Exposure” Strategy)
If you have to go out to check on livestock, clear a path, or help a neighbor, follow these rules:
The Three-Layer Rule: Start with a “wicking” layer (polyester or silk to keep sweat off your skin), add an “insulation” layer (like fleece or wool), and finish with a “shell” (wind and water-proof).
Sweat is the Enemy: If you start to get too warm while shoveling, take off a layer. If you get wet from sweat, you will freeze twice as fast once you stop moving.
Watch for Hypothermia: Shivering is the first sign. If you or someone else starts shivering uncontrollably, becomes confused, or starts fumbling with their hands (the “umbles”: stumbles, mumbles, fumbles), get them inside immediately. Warm them up slowly with dry clothes and blankets; don’t put them in a hot shower immediately as it can cause shock.
Wind Chill: In Areas 1 and 2, the wind coming off the ridges can drop the “feels like” temperature by 20 degrees. Cover all exposed skin to prevent frostbite. Frostbite often feels like “pins and needles” before the skin turns white or waxy.
Part 4: Pets and Livestock (The “Vulnerable” Strategy)
Paws and Salt: Road salt can burn your dog’s paws. Wipe them down after they come inside.
Extra Calories: Animals burn more energy staying warm in the cold. Give them a little extra food during the storm.
Water Access: Heated bowls or stock tank heaters are useless in an outage. Check outdoor water troughs every few hours to break the ice so your animals can drink. Dehydration is a major cause of winter livestock loss.
Final Thought: In the Appalachia region, we look out for each other. If you have a neighbor who lives alone, give them a call or a text while the lines are still up. Let them know your plan and ask for theirs. If the towers go down, a pre-arranged signal (like a certain colored ribbon on the mailbox) can let neighbors know you are okay or that you need help.
Sources
2026-01-24 | https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Murphy&state=NC
2026-01-24 | https://www.ready.gov/power-outages
2026-01-24 | https://wellowner.org/2022/01/protect-your-well-your-water-and-your-wallet-this-winter/
Appalachia Daily Update is a hyper-local news service for the mountain communities of North Carolina and Georgia. Take care of your neighbors, and they will take care of you. For more updates, visit https://go.riverrun.digital.
