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Appalachia Relief

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Heat, Power & Staying Warm

Information about how to stay warm if you have lost power or housing.

More About This Info

These resources were originally crowdsourced by the Asheville, NC community in the weeks immediately after Hurricane Helene. Some of this info has been recently updated, but please contact listed orgs to confirm the most current information.

While our goal is to offer useful information, we do not endorse external content or take responsibility for how it is used. Please review these resources carefully and make the decisions that work best for you.

On This Page

Safety Tipes / What Not to Do

Staying Warm Without Electricity

Using an Electric Vehicle as a Generator

Propane

Safety Tips / What Not to Do

  • Avoid Using Generators Indoors: Never use gas-powered generators inside your home or garage to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
  • Don’t Rely on Open Flames: Avoid using candles or other open flames for light or heat, as they pose a fire hazard.
  • Don’t Overheat Yourself: Stay warm, but avoid bundling up too tightly, which can lead to overheating or restricted circulation.
  • Avoid Alcohol: Drinking alcohol might feel warming, but it actually lowers your body temperature and dehydrates you.
  • Don’t Use Unsafe Heat Sources: Avoid using stoves (gas or electric), camp stoves, or charcoal grills indoors, as they produce carbon monoxide, a deadly and odorless gas.

Staying Warm Without Electricity

If you have no power and the temperatures are dropping, here are some cold-weather tips to keep you warm and safe:

  • Layer Up: Wear multiple layers of clothing, including thermal undergarments, sweaters, and socks. Don’t forget a warm hat!
  • Use Blankets: Wrap yourself in blankets, sleeping bags, or anything warm you can find. Layering blankets provides extra insulation.
  • Stay in One Room: Choose a small room to heat with body warmth. Close doors to keep the heat in.
  • Seal Drafts: Block drafts from windows and doors with towels or clothing to retain warmth.
  • Warm Up with Hot Drinks: If possible, heat water for hot drinks like tea, coffee, or hot chocolate to stay warm from the inside.
  • Move Around: Keep your blood circulating by gently moving around or doing light exercises.
  • Create a Cozy Space: Gather with family or friends in one area. Body heat can help keep everyone warm.
  • Use Battery-Powered Heat Sources: Use a battery-operated heater or heating pad cautiously to warm small areas.

For questions about safe heating practices, please call or visit your local fire department.

Using an Electric Vehicle as a Generator

If you have spare USB batteries / power banks, please charge them from an EV only and hand them out to neighbors to charge their phones. We want to avoid people wasting gas idling an engine just to charge a phone.

  • If you have a Tesla, activate sentry mode but disable cameras, this will keep the USB and 12V ports active overnight to charge smaller batteries (with the doors locked, no HVAC used, basically just like a regular car alarm). This is the most efficient way to transfer power from the larger traction battery to smaller ones.
  • If you have a larger 12V inverter, you can connect it to the 12V battery in the EV, same as a gas car. The EV’s traction battery should then recharge the smaller 12V battery as needed. Typically a 1500W or higher rated inverter is needed to power appliances.

Propane

Please contact listed orgs directly to confirm the most current information.

Emergency Propane

For emergency propane, gasoline, diesel, or kerosene, message PERT on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pertdisaster 

Tank Swaps

Please call ahead to confirm the most current information.

  • Hip Hen, 89 Lake Lure Hwy, Lake Lure, NC 28746
  • Blossman Gas, $10, 2138 West, US-19E, Burnsville, NC 28714, 828-682-2118, blossmangas.com
  • Foscoe Grandfather Community Center, 233 Park Rd, Banner Elk, NC 28604, 828-963-7272, foscoecommunitycenter.com
  • Pine Hill Auto Parts, $9 for 20lbs tanks (bring empties), 37 Newdale Church Rd, Burnsville, NC 28714, 828-675-5852
  • Silverados, free exchange, 2898 US-70, Black Mountain, NC 28711, silveradoswnc.com

Last updated: January 18, 2025, 6:28 pm