Before a winter storm: insulate and weatherstrip, know where your water main shut-off is, have the furnace serviced, and set aside batteries and supplies. During the storm: run any generator outdoors and at least 20 feet from the house, never heat with a gas stove, and watch for the overexertion that makes shoveling a real health risk. Here's the fuller checklist.
Ready.gov and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), as of September 2026, recommend:
Fairfax County also asks residents to "adopt" a fire hydrant near their home and keep it clear of snow, and to shovel for neighbors who are older or have access needs, if they're able.
Keep it outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and vents — never in a garage, basement, crawlspace, shed, carport or any other enclosed space, even with the doors or windows open. The CDC, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Ready.gov all give the same distance and warning. Point the exhaust away from your home and any building someone could enter, and close windows or vents near the generator or in the path of its exhaust.
Install a battery-powered or battery-backup carbon monoxide alarm on every level of the house and outside sleeping areas — interconnected alarms are best, and test them monthly (CPSC). This is the same placement rule covered in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms: where they go and when to replace them.
Dominion Energy's outage FAQ warns that connecting a portable generator straight into a home's electrical system can "feedback" into the grid and injure utility crews working to restore power. Connect appliances directly to the generator's own outlets with heavy-duty extension cords instead. A transfer switch or interlock that lets a generator power your home's circuits safely through the panel is electrical work, and Virginia requires a licensed electrician (or someone working under one) to do it for pay — this isn't a project to wire yourself. If you want one installed, book electrical repair with a licensed pro well before the next storm, not during one.
Ready.gov and the CDC both warn against this — it's a leading cause of carbon monoxide poisoning during outages.
The refrigerator keeps food cold for about 4 hours; a full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours (Ready.gov). Throw out anything that's been exposed to 40°F or higher for 2 hours or more, or that has an unusual smell, color or texture.
Check which utility is on your bill — Northern Virginia is split between two:
| Utility | Report an outage | Downed line? |
|---|---|---|
| Dominion Energy | 866-366-4357, or outagemap.dominionenergy.com | Stay at least 30 feet back; call 911 if it's an immediate danger |
| NOVEC (Clarke, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, Stafford, Manassas Park, Clifton) | 703-335-0500, SmartHub, or text #OUT to 85700 | Same — treat any downed line as energized |
Dominion's FAQ also notes that if a storm damages the wiring between the utility connection and your home's meter, an electrician has to repair that section before power can be reconnected — Dominion repairs only up to the point of connection.
Yes. Both Ready.gov and VDEM flag shoveling as a recognized trigger for heart attacks from overexertion. Pace yourself, take breaks, and don't push through chest tightness or shortness of breath. For a long driveway or a steep walkway, it's worth booking snow removal instead of doing it all at once yourself.
A furnace or heat pump failure in a winter storm isn't something to wait out — book heating repair as soon as you notice it's not keeping up, and in the meantime keep faucets on exterior walls dripping and cabinet doors open so pipes don't freeze. If a pipe does freeze or a fitting starts leaking while the heat is out, book plumbing repair.
Service the furnace, find the water shut-off, and figure out your generator plan now, while the forecast is clear. When you need help, book snow removal or heating repair with an independent local Pro.
Last updated September 2026.
No. Dominion Energy warns that connecting a generator to a home's electrical system can "feedback" into the grid and injure utility workers. Connect appliances directly to the generator's own outlets instead. A transfer switch or interlock that lets a generator connect through your panel is electrical work for a licensed electrician.
A refrigerator keeps food cold for about 4 hours; a full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours (Ready.gov). Throw out anything held at 40°F or higher for 2 hours or more.
It depends which utility is on your bill. Dominion Energy customers can call 866-366-4357 or check outagemap.dominionenergy.com. NOVEC customers can call 703-335-0500, use SmartHub, or text #OUT to 85700. Don't assume one utility covers your whole county.
Yes — Ready.gov and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management both flag overexertion while shoveling as a recognized heart-attack trigger. Pace yourself, take breaks, and ask a neighbor or a Pro for help with a long driveway.