What to Do When There Is an Ice Storm | United States Freezing Rain, Power and Road Safety Guide

If freezing rain is coating roads, trees and electrical lines where you live in the United States, stay in a safe heated building, postpone unnecessary travel and monitor the latest National Weather Service (NWS) Ice Storm Warning or Winter Storm Warning for your location. Walking or driving across glazed ice can cause serious injury, and ice-heavy branches or power lines may fall without warning. Do not step outside to inspect a sagging tree, rescue a parked vehicle or begin clearing ice while the storm is active.

If electricity fails, use battery-powered lighting, safe clothing and blankets, and plan for alternative warm accommodation when necessary. Never operate a portable generator inside a home, garage, basement, shed or near doors or windows. The CDC recommends generator operation outdoors at least 20 feet away from doors, windows and vents, with the exhaust directed away from the building. A carbon monoxide alarm is important because this gas is invisible and can kill without smell.

This guide is for families, drivers, students, older adults, workers and visitors in areas of the United States affected by damaging freezing rain, from the Midwest and Great Lakes to the Northeast, Appalachian states, Mid-South and other regions. The threat is local and changes with temperature, wind, precipitation and infrastructure. For current information use NWS winter weather warnings, your local NWS forecast and state or local emergency management. For immediate life-threatening emergencies, call 911. This is not a live forecast.

Quick answer: the first ten actions

Ice Storm Warning for your location? Stop nonessential travel and prepare for tree damage, utility outages and dangerous walking conditions.
If glaze ice is forming: remain indoors in a suitable heated building and keep away from trees, electrical lines and unstable branches.
Never touch a downed power line, an object in contact with it, or water that could be energised. Treat every line as live.
If power fails: use a flashlight instead of candles where possible and wear warm, dry layers.
If you need a generator: use it outdoors at least 20 feet from openings, protect it from unsafe moisture and follow electrical and carbon monoxide safety instructions.
Do not operate grills, camping stoves or outdoor fuel heaters indoors. Opening a window does not make such equipment safe.
If roads are iced: do not drive to see whether your vehicle can manage. Follow state DOT or 511 road closures and NWS alerts.
Check vulnerable people before a prolonged outage, especially anyone using electricity-dependent medical equipment.
For suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, severe cold injury, major injury or urgent danger, call 911 and move to fresh air if safe.
After the ice ends: watch for hidden glaze, falling branches, live wires, unstable trees and dangerous snow or ice removal.

The National Weather Service’s winter warning explanations, CDC winter storm safety and NWS post-storm precautions support these actions.

What is an ice storm?

An ice storm is a winter-weather event in which freezing rain deposits enough ice to create damaging conditions. Freezing rain falls as liquid droplets that freeze when they contact sufficiently cold ground, trees, vehicles, wires or other exposed surfaces. This creates a smooth glaze that may be hard to notice until a person slips.

Sleet is different. Sleet consists of ice pellets that freeze before reaching the surface. It can also make roads slippery, but it does not usually create the same smooth coating on every exposed surface as freezing rain.

The weight of ice matters. Tree limbs may break and electrical lines may sag or fall, producing power outages that outlast the precipitation itself. A road may look wet while actually having a nearly invisible coat of ice.

The NWS glossary of ice storms explains that damaging accumulations often involve around a quarter-inch of ice or more, though warning criteria vary by region. Never treat a small-looking layer as harmless on a staircase or bridge.

Why an ice storm differs from a blizzard

A blizzard involves strong wind and blowing snow that reduces visibility for a sustained period. An ice storm can occur without heavy snow. Its signature hazards are freezing rain, glaze ice, falling branches, damaged electrical infrastructure and dangerous traction.

A family that expects only snow may prepare a shovel but underestimate how much solid ice can coat the driveway or load overhead branches. A motorist may think the roads are wet because no snow has accumulated.

Both winter hazards can cause outages and cold exposure, but the protective decisions differ. During a blizzard the primary travel problem may be whiteout conditions; during an ice storm even a clear-looking road can have dangerously little grip.

For a complementary guide on blizzard conditions, see eduKateSG’s Canada winter storm guide, while using the NWS and state agencies for US weather and access decisions.

Understand an Ice Storm Warning

The NWS issues Ice Storm Warnings when damaging freezing-rain accumulation is expected or occurring. Its public guidance says warnings are commonly issued when around a quarter-inch or more of ice is expected, with local criteria varying by state or forecast office.

An Ice Storm Warning is a strong reason to avoid travel and prepare for tree and power damage. Do not interpret it as an instruction that the event will stop at an exact clock time or that the road will be safe immediately afterward.

A Winter Storm Watch signals that significant winter weather is possible and preparation is needed. A Winter Storm Warning may cover combinations of snow, sleet and freezing rain. A Winter Weather Advisory can still involve hazardous roads, even when the threshold for a warning is not reached.

Read the NWS Watches, Warnings and Advisories guide and your local forecast’s impact statement. The action matters more than memorising the label.

What does a quarter-inch of ice really mean?

An ice layer that seems thin when measured with a ruler can add substantial weight across the surface of a large tree crown or hundreds of metres of cable. This can break branches, damage poles and interrupt electrical supply.

The amount measured at one location does not mean every road or tree in the county has the same coating. Temperature near the surface, wind exposure, tree species and other factors affect the outcome.

Do not calculate safety from ice thickness alone. A polished step can be dangerous well below a storm warning threshold; a large limb may be structurally compromised even after thaw begins.

The value of the warning threshold is operational: it signals potential widespread damage and dangerous travel, rather than a guarantee of how many wires will fall on your street.

Why bridges and overpasses freeze early

Bridges and elevated road surfaces can cool from multiple directions, often making them more prone to icing than neighbouring ground. A driver may travel on a wet-looking road and suddenly encounter glaze on a bridge or ramp.

Do not accelerate across the bridge to get through quickly. Avoid driving when official warnings and conditions indicate danger. If travel is absolutely unavoidable under an authorised operational plan, slow carefully well in advance and follow local road regulations and professional guidance.

Ordinary four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive can improve some traction tasks, but it cannot guarantee stopping or steering on glazed ice. The ability to move a vehicle is not the same as the ability to stop it.

NWS winter preparedness guidance highlights the difficulty of recognising icy roads and the importance of avoiding abrupt braking.

Why staying home is usually the most protective choice

An ice storm creates multiple hazards at once: slippery walking surfaces, traffic collisions, falling branches, lost electricity and possible disruptions to water, phone or medical services. A journey for groceries or routine appointments can expose a person to all of them.

Before a forecast ice event, obtain essential medicines, food and drinking water while roads are safe. Reschedule nonurgent travel and confirm remote work or school arrangements. Do not wait until the driveway is glazed before discovering that your medication is almost finished.

If you live alone or have limited mobility, identify who can assist if heating or power fails. A plan that requires an older relative to walk across an icy parking lot after the storm starts is not reliable.

The best ice-storm travel decision is often made before the first freezing rain falls.

A 24-hour household preparation sequence

When a warning is issued, first check the likely start and duration. Then inspect your essential supplies and the condition of approved heating equipment. Charge phones, power banks and battery lights.

Review the location of warm clothing, blankets, food and drinking water. Confirm how to use the home’s normal heating system safely and what alternative accommodation exists if that system loses power.

Check on family members with medical or mobility needs. Establish a simple out-of-area contact and identify a safe nearby warm location that is actually open, not one assumed to be operating.

Do not undertake dangerous tree trimming or climb a roof as freezing rain approaches. Professional tree and utility work should occur under safe conditions.

Ice can bring down trees after the rain stops

Trees may continue to shed branches during thawing, wind or changing ice loads. A branch that did not fall during precipitation may break later. Keep away from visibly sagging limbs and avoid walking beneath trees carrying heavy ice.

Do not stand under a branch to photograph its coating. Avoid parking or moving vehicles beneath loaded trees when it can be done without exposure. A tree touching electrical lines creates additional danger even when no sparks are visible.

If a branch is hanging above a walkway or building, contact the responsible property manager, utility or professional tree service. Do not attempt to pull it down with a rope or climb a ladder under it.

After the weather improves, wait for safe clearance of paths rather than treating the silence as an all-clear.

Downed power lines: assume every wire is live

A fallen wire can remain energised even if the surrounding area has no electricity. It may also be re-energised without warning. Stay well away from the wire, the ground around it and any fence, tree, vehicle or water it may be touching.

Do not try to move it with a stick, shovel, glove or plastic object. Do not drive across it. Keep bystanders and children away and contact 911 or the utility emergency service according to the circumstances.

If a wire lands on your vehicle, remaining inside can be safer unless the vehicle is on fire or there is another immediate threat. Call emergency services for specific instructions rather than stepping out and touching the vehicle and ground simultaneously.

The NOAA post-storm guide emphasizes avoiding every downed or dangling electrical line because it may be live.

When the power fails: decide whether the home can remain warm enough

A loss of electricity may interrupt central heating, lighting, communications and powered medical equipment. The first question is whether the home remains safe for everyone who lives there.

Use dry layers, blankets and an appropriate smaller part of the house to conserve warmth, without blocking exits or creating fire hazards. Use flashlights rather than candles where possible. Check the home’s temperature and the condition of vulnerable residents.

If the indoor temperature becomes unsafe or critical medical equipment cannot operate, seek an authorised warming centre, healthcare facility or other verified safe location. Plan relocation before the household member becomes severely cold or medically unstable.

Avoid improvised indoor combustion heating. A warm room is not protective if carbon monoxide is accumulating.

Carbon monoxide: the hidden outage killer

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible and odourless gas produced by incomplete combustion. It can build up when generators, charcoal grills, petrol-powered equipment or outdoor cooking appliances are used in unsuitable indoor or semi-enclosed spaces.

Symptoms can include headache, dizziness, nausea, weakness, confusion and collapse. Multiple people in the same space developing similar symptoms may be an important warning. Never dismiss a carbon monoxide alarm because you cannot smell anything.

Move everyone to fresh air immediately if a carbon monoxide alarm sounds or poisoning is suspected, then call 911 from a safe location. Do not stay inside to investigate the heater or generator.

The CDC winter storm guidance repeatedly stresses using detectors, safe equipment and outdoor generator placement.

Portable generators: the 20-foot rule

Portable fuel generators must operate outdoors, away from the home. CDC guidance advises placing them at least 20 feet (about 6 metres) from windows, doors and vents, protected from rain or snow without enclosing the exhaust, and directing fumes away from the building.

A garage with the door open is not safe enough. Neither is a basement, shed, attached carport with poor ventilation, hallway or balcony enclosed by windows. Carbon monoxide can enter the home without a person noticing.

Use suitable outdoor-rated electrical connections and follow the generator’s instructions. Never connect a generator directly to household wiring in a way that can backfeed electricity into utility lines. That can injure lineworkers and residents.

Keep CO alarms operating. Do not treat the generator as safe merely because the lights are working.

Fuel, extension cords and electrical fire safety

Winter outages can encourage improvised wiring. Use only appropriately rated cords and equipment, avoid wet electrical connections and follow manufacturer’s and electrical professionals’ advice. Overloading a circuit or connecting a generator incorrectly can create fire and shock hazards.

Do not use an outdoor grill, camp stove or gas oven as a room heater. Never run a vehicle inside a closed or partly enclosed garage to keep warm.

Store fuel safely, away from living spaces and ignition sources, according to local codes and equipment instructions. Do not refill a hot generator without following the required safe cooldown and handling procedures.

A backup energy plan should be made before an ice storm, not invented when visibility is poor and the house is cold.

Heating safely with a fireplace or space heater

If the home has a correctly installed fireplace, stove or approved space heater, follow its operating and ventilation instructions. Keep flammable material away from hot surfaces, maintain clear exits and use functioning smoke and CO alarms.

Do not burn outdoor fuels or inappropriate materials in indoor appliances. A stove vent or chimney may be affected by storm damage; use it only if safe. A fireplace is not a universal backup for every home.

Electric space heaters need suitable outlets and clearances. Do not drape clothing over them or use unsuitable extension cords. If electrical wiring is damaged, seek professional assessment rather than forcing the heater to operate.

When normal heat is unavailable, a properly verified warming centre or another safe home may be preferable to risky heating improvisation.

Hypothermia: know when to call for medical help

Hypothermia occurs when body temperature falls dangerously. Early signs may include intense shivering, unusual fatigue, slurred speech, poor coordination and confusion. Severe cases may involve loss of consciousness or reduced shivering.

Move the person to a warmer safe place, remove wet clothing if possible and insulate with dry blankets or warm clothing. Handle seriously cold people gently, and call 911 for severe symptoms or concerning changes in consciousness.

Do not force drinks into a confused or unconscious person. Do not place someone with suspected serious hypothermia suddenly into a very hot bath or rub cold limbs aggressively. Follow emergency medical instructions.

A person who seems sleepy, confused or unusually quiet after cold exposure may need urgent assessment, not encouragement to ‘sleep it off’.

Frostbite: protect frozen tissue

Frostbite may cause numbness, colour change, hard-feeling skin or loss of sensation, commonly in fingers, toes, ears and the nose. Appearance varies by skin tone and tissue condition.

Move indoors and protect the affected area from further freezing. Do not rub or massage frozen skin, use direct flames or apply uncontrolled intense heat. Seek prompt medical assessment, especially for hard skin, significant numbness, blisters or extensive injury.

If a person may have to return to freezing temperatures, ask medical responders about appropriate rewarming; refreezing after rewarming can cause severe harm.

Avoid requiring children or older residents to stand outside in cold rain or ice to complete an unnecessary task.

Freezing rain and medical appointments

Some medical appointments can be postponed, but others are essential. People receiving dialysis, oxygen, specialised treatment or using powered equipment should discuss a bad-weather plan with their provider ahead of time.

If the roads are dangerous or closed, contact the facility or local emergency service rather than simply attempting to drive. Ask about a safe rescheduled treatment, transport or backup location. Do not stop a prescribed medication because travel is disrupted without medical advice.

Keep copies of prescriptions, medication lists and device requirements readily available. Prepare for the possibility that pharmacies and deliveries will also be affected.

Medical continuity is a preparation task, not something to consider only after the house has gone cold.

Older adults and people with disabilities

A person living alone may be unable to de-ice a doorstep, reach a car or operate emergency heating safely. Arrange check-ins before the storm. Ask whether they have working heat, food, water, medications and a way to call for help.

For wheelchair users or people with mobility limitations, check accessible transport and suitable warming-centre arrangements. A centre being open does not automatically mean every route or entrance to it is accessible in ice.

Someone dependent on a powered medical device needs a confirmed backup plan. A building-wide outage can become urgent for that person even if other households remain comfortable under blankets.

Where serious illness or immediate danger exists, call 911 and describe the specific assistance needed.

Children, schools and school transport

Schools and childcare centres should follow district and local authority decisions about delays and closures. A general NWS weather warning may influence them, but it is not itself a closure announcement for every school in the county.

Parents need to know how children will be supervised if buses stop or an early dismissal is announced. Do not require a child to walk along glazed sidewalks or wait outside under ice-loaded trees simply because the ordinary timetable is still visible.

Teach one clear rule: “Ice can make the ground dangerous even when it looks wet. Stay inside and follow the adult’s route.”

After the precipitation stops, check for falling branches and black ice before reopening playgrounds, parking lots or paths.

What if you absolutely must drive?

The NWS strongly discourages travel during an Ice Storm Warning. If a trip is genuinely essential, check official state transport and emergency restrictions, ensure the vehicle is appropriate for conditions and consider whether another safer option exists.

Drive extremely cautiously, avoid abrupt braking or steering and leave substantially more following distance. Bridges and exposed curves can ice first. Do not rely on all-wheel drive to create stopping grip on ice.

If visibility, traction or road closures make travel unsafe, stop at a suitable safe location or turn back. Do not make a sudden stop in a live traffic lane or pull beneath a tree carrying heavy ice.

Essential workers should follow professional procedures and employer emergency plans. A routine delivery deadline is not a reason to attempt a prohibited or clearly unsafe road.

State road reports and 511 information

Many US states operate road-information services, often reachable through 511 telephone or online systems. These provide information on closures, travel conditions and incidents, but not every state has identical interfaces or coverage.

Check the relevant state Department of Transportation, highway patrol or local emergency management rather than assuming one nationwide map includes every icy local road. A navigation app may show the usual route but not an overnight closure.

Avoid overpasses, steep untreated approaches and unfamiliar rural shortcuts when the highway network is hazardous. A route’s apparent legal status is not proof that its surface has safe traction.

When officials close a road, do not bypass barricades. Conditions may include fallen trees, wires or damage beyond the visible icy surface.

If your vehicle becomes stranded

If the car becomes stuck and you cannot safely move it, request roadside or emergency assistance and share your precise location. Stay with the vehicle when it offers safe shelter and is not threatened by another immediate hazard.

Preserve phone battery, use warm clothing and blankets and stay visible to responders without exposing yourself to traffic. Avoid leaving the vehicle to walk long distances across icy roads or beneath damaged branches.

If using the engine intermittently for heat, ensure the exhaust outlet is not blocked by snow or ice and allow ventilation. Carbon monoxide can enter the vehicle if exhaust cannot escape.

If a power line has fallen onto the vehicle or a tree is threatening to fall, call 911 and follow dispatcher directions; an ordinary stranded-car rule may no longer apply.

Don’t walk beneath ice-heavy trees or wires

A quiet street may seem safe to cross after freezing rain stops. Branches, power lines and damaged roofs can still release ice or collapse. Keep a wide distance from visibly loaded or broken trees and electrical infrastructure.

Do not attempt to knock icicles from a tall roof by standing directly beneath them. Avoid leaning against fences or touching metal objects in contact with downed wires.

If essential access is blocked, seek help from property management, the utility or qualified tree professionals. An untrained household member should not climb a ladder beneath an ice-laden limb to clear a path.

The risk often shifts from precipitation to falling debris during thawing or wind.

Ice on stairs, sidewalks and driveways

Black ice may be almost invisible. Wear suitable traction footwear and use handrails where safe. When conditions permit, follow local snow and ice treatment guidance using appropriate de-icing products or traction material.

Do not rush to clear a long driveway while trees are still shedding branches. Keep pathways safe for caregivers and emergency responders, but avoid overexertion or unsafe lifting.

A property manager should identify dangerous steps and provide accessible alternatives for residents who cannot negotiate ice. A warning sign alone is insufficient when essential building access remains hazardous.

Watch for refreezing overnight after a daytime thaw. The ice hazard can return even when daytime conditions seemed improved.

Pets and livestock during ice storms

Bring household animals into suitable shelter before dangerous conditions where possible. Keep food, safe water and medication available and avoid exposing pets to salt, chemicals or ice injuries on walks.

Livestock owners should follow veterinary and local agricultural guidance for shelter, water access and safe feeding. Do not send people into exposed pasture beneath ice-heavy trees or power lines solely to move animals after conditions become severe.

If an animal needs urgent attention and routes are blocked, contact a veterinarian or appropriate local responder before undertaking a dangerous crossing.

A pet that becomes frightened during loud tree damage may try to escape. Keep animal identification and secure containment ready in advance.

Workplaces and delivery services

Businesses should monitor NWS warnings, arrange early closure or remote work when appropriate and give staff explicit instructions about road restrictions. Outdoor crews, lineworkers, delivery riders and drivers may face different hazards from office staff.

Essential utility restoration should be performed by trained personnel with appropriate equipment. Managers should not ask untrained employees to pull branches from wires or repair power connections.

A company can preserve records and communicate delays without sending people through glazed roads. Employee safety takes precedence over maintaining ordinary opening hours.

After the storm, check safe access, heating, electricity and structural conditions before reopening.

Food safety and drinking water during outages

Extended electricity loss can spoil refrigerated food. Follow current USDA food-safety guidance rather than tasting questionable items. As a general rule, a refrigerator kept closed may hold a safe temperature for about four hours, while a full freezer may remain cold longer, but actual conditions vary.

If the municipal water system is affected by power or pipe damage, obey official drinking-water notices. Boiling helps with many microbial hazards when directed but does not eliminate many chemical contaminants.

Keep food and water protected, especially for infants and people with medical vulnerabilities. Avoid unsafe indoor cooking with charcoal grills or camp stoves during an outage.

The ice melting does not automatically restore food or water safety.

Water pipes and plumbing after freezing

Prolonged cold can freeze water pipes. As they thaw, leaks or bursts can cause flooding and electrical hazards. If you notice significant leaks, follow utility and property-management instructions.

Do not use blowtorches, open flames or other dangerous improvised methods to thaw a pipe. A qualified plumber can help assess the affected system. Keep children away from water entering electrical rooms or outlets.

If a pipe breaks in a multifamily building, alert management and neighbours. Do not assume the leak affects only one apartment.

A winter storm can turn into a water-damage emergency long after freezing rain has ended.

Cleaning up after an ice storm

Wait for dangerous falling ice, branches and wind to subside. Check the property from a protected place. Do not enter an area with a downed line, unstable tree or damaged roof.

Take photographs for insurance or legitimate assistance where safe. Professional tree services or utilities should manage hazardous branches and electrical issues. Avoid climbing an icy ladder or roof.

When shovelling or chipping ice, avoid excessive exertion, particularly if you have cardiovascular risk. Take breaks, use suitable equipment and stop for chest pain, severe breathlessness or dizziness.

Recovery should reduce hazards, not create new casualties through rushed property repair.

Power restoration and re-energised equipment

When the utility restores electricity, damaged circuits or appliances may behave unpredictably. Do not touch a flooded or visibly damaged electrical installation or attempt a do-it-yourself repair of service lines.

Use qualified professionals where necessary. Check that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are operating, and restore heating equipment according to its instructions.

An appliance that sat in water after burst pipes may remain unsafe even after the room has dried. Avoid assuming the end of the outage means all equipment is ready for use.

The safe order is utility clearance, household inspection, then normal operation.

Storm information and false social-media advice

Weather screenshots may omit the date, affected county or whether an Ice Storm Warning has been replaced with an advisory. A video of an ice-covered highway from another state may circulate as proof that a local road is closed.

Use official NWS, state transport and emergency agency sources. Share warnings with time, location, source and action rather than dramatic unverified claims.

Do not circulate advice that generators are safe in open garages or that running a car in a garage is acceptable during winter. Such claims are dangerous.

A good household update says: “Our county is under an Ice Storm Warning; we’ve postponed travel, checked our heating plan and will use the state road service for updates.”

Scenario 1: a family in Kentucky receives an Ice Storm Warning

Imagine a family in Kentucky receives an NWS warning for significant freezing rain. They move routine appointments, obtain essential medicines while roads remain safe, charge phones and confirm where their older relative can stay if electricity fails.

Later, ice loads power lines and the electricity goes out. The family uses safe warm clothing and lighting, and seeks verified warm accommodation when necessary rather than improvising unsafe indoor fuel heating.

This is a fictional teaching scenario, not a report of today’s weather. Its lesson is preparing before the storm rather than driving into it for supplies.

Scenario 2: a resident sees a power line beneath a fallen branch

A resident discovers a broken branch resting on a wire outside the home after freezing rain. They consider moving it with a broom.

Instead, they stay away, keep other people and pets clear and contact the utility or 911 if there is immediate danger. They do not assume the line is de-energised simply because the street has lost power.

The lesson is treat every fallen or damaged power line as live until professionals make it safe.

Scenario 3: a household considers running a generator in the garage

After several hours without power, a family plans to use a portable generator just inside an open garage door. A household member points out that carbon monoxide can flow into the home.

They relocate the equipment outdoors according to safe manufacturer and CDC placement guidance, at least 20 feet from openings, and confirm appropriate electrical and ventilation precautions.

The fictional example demonstrates an open garage door does not make indoor generator use safe.

Scenario 4: a driver approaches an iced bridge

A driver sees no snow on the road but notices freezing rain. The bridge ahead looks wet. The driver is already travelling for a routine shopping trip and considers continuing at ordinary speed.

Instead, they postpone the journey and return to a safe location, or follow official road guidance if travel is unavoidable. They understand that apparent wetness may conceal glaze ice.

The lesson is road traction, not snow depth, determines an ice-storm travel hazard.

Scenario 5: an elderly neighbour loses heat

A resident learns that an older neighbour’s heating system stopped during the outage. The neighbour cannot safely walk across the icy parking area and is becoming cold.

The household contacts a suitable local emergency or community service to arrange safe assistance or transport. They do not simply tell the neighbour to wait until utility repair is complete or to use a charcoal grill indoors.

The lesson is medical and mobility needs can turn an ordinary power outage into an urgent life-safety problem.

Scenario 6: the ice stops falling but the trees are still dangerous

The next day, a household sees sunshine and begins clearing the driveway beneath a large ice-covered tree. They notice a major limb sagging above the work area.

They move away, restrict access and seek qualified assistance instead of shaking the branch or using a ladder beneath it.

The lesson is falling limbs can remain hazardous after the freezing rain itself ends.

Common ice-storm mistakes in the United States

“There is no snow, so the roads are safe.” Freezing rain can coat bare-looking roads with nearly invisible ice.
“Four-wheel drive means I can stop on ice.” Traction to move does not guarantee braking or steering.
“A quarter-inch is too little to damage anything.” Ice can add damaging weight to trees and utility lines.
“The power is out, so a fallen wire must be dead.” It may remain energised or be re-energised.
“A generator is safe in a garage with the door open.” Carbon monoxide can enter living spaces.
“A barbecue is a useful indoor heater.” Grills and camp stoves can create deadly carbon monoxide.
“I should investigate a CO alarm first.” Leave for fresh air and call emergency services.
“Once the rain stops, all branches are stable.” Ice loads and thaw can cause later breakage.
“A highway route in my navigation app must be open.” Check the state DOT and official closures.
“A warm blanket can replace essential powered medical equipment indefinitely.” Arrange appropriate medical assistance.
“I should thaw frozen pipes with an open flame.” That can cause fire and damage.
“I should clear the roof as soon as sun appears.” Ice, weak structures and falls can remain hazards.
“An advisory means no one can get hurt.” Local roads and steps can remain dangerous.
“After power returns, every appliance is safe.” Damaged or wet installations require assessment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the first thing to do if an Ice Storm Warning is issued?

Stay in a safe heated building, postpone nonessential travel, prepare for possible outages and check the local NWS and emergency agency instructions.

What is the difference between freezing rain and sleet?

Freezing rain falls as liquid and freezes on contact, forming glaze ice. Sleet freezes in the air and falls as pellets. Both can make roads hazardous.

How much ice does the NWS use for an Ice Storm Warning?

Typically around one-quarter inch or more of damaging ice accumulation, although local warning criteria differ. Never use that threshold as a guarantee that smaller ice amounts are safe.

Can I drive on icy roads if my car has all-wheel drive?

All-wheel drive does not guarantee stopping or steering on glazed ice. NWS strongly discourages travel during Ice Storm Warnings.

Can I use a generator inside a garage?

No. Operate it outdoors at least 20 feet from openings, with exhaust directed away from the building, following CDC and equipment guidance.

What should I do about a downed electrical line?

Stay far away, keep others clear and contact the utility or 911 for immediate danger. Assume the line is live.

What if my home loses heating?

Use safe warm clothing and appropriate heating arrangements, monitor vulnerable people and seek a verified warming centre or emergency support if indoor conditions become unsafe.

Why are trees dangerous after the ice storm ends?

Branches can remain loaded with ice and may break during thaw or wind. Do not stand or work beneath unstable limbs.

What number should I call for a life-threatening ice storm emergency in the US?

911 for urgent Police, Fire or Ambulance assistance. Use local utility or state road services for routine outage and road-condition reports.

Official United States ice storm sources and related eduKate guides

Editorial review: 6 November 2026. This page is general safety information, not a live NWS warning, local road report or medical advice. Always follow emergency personnel, utility operators and your actual local conditions.