Electricity

Using an Electric Vehicle as a generator:

HOME ELECTRICITY

As the power starts to come back on, there is risk of electrical fires. Cut off the main breaker to your house, especially if you are evacuating. When the power comes back on, slowly start to energize your house to isolate any issues. (Source: Asheville Firefighters Association, Facebook)

While power is out, shut off main breaker and all individual breakers.

Once power is restored:

Turn on just main breaker. Walk around house and see if you hear any buzzing, see or smell smoke. If so, turn power off.
Turn on individual breakers, room by room, starting with just lights and outlets and repeat checks for issues.
Turn on major appliances last - they can be damaged by power surges.

Important note - if you have an electric hot water heater, it’s possible you’ve pulled water out of it from your faucets. LEAVE THAT BREAKER OFF until water service returns or you may burn out the elements and create a fire risk.

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. Keep in mind the car will stop recharging the smaller 12-volt battery if it shuts off, and many vehicles will shut off automatically after a predetermined amount of time. (Determined by the manufacturer) It has been proven that on certain vehicles, putting the vehicle in Neutral with the Parking Brake Engaged so that it doesn’t roll, will prevent the vehicle from turning itself off.
Typically, a 1500 watt rated or higher 12-volt DC to 120-volt AC, inverter is needed to power appliances using the above method with a vehicle’s 12-volt battery.

PROPANE

Ace on Haywood, Asheville, NC normally does refills from large canister outside. Hearing you should arrive by 8 AM.
Blossman Gas at 170 Sweeten Creek Rd, Asheville, NC

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 can provide extra insulation.
𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝗺: Choose a smaller room to heat with body warmth. Close off doors to keep the heat in.
𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁𝘀: Use towels or clothing to block drafts from windows and doors. This will help keep the warmth in.
𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗨𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗛𝗼𝘁 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀: If you have a way to heat water, enjoy hot drinks like tea, coffee, or hot chocolate to stay warm from the inside.
𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱: Keep your blood circulating by moving around gently. Do some light exercises to stay warm.
𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝘇𝘆 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲: Gather in one area with family or friends. Body heat from being together can help keep everyone warm.
𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆-𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀: If you have a battery-operated heater or heating pad, use it carefully to warm small areas.
𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱: Keep a battery-powered radio or your phone charged for updates on the power restoration and weather.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗼:

𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝗨𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘀: Never use gas-powered generators inside your home or garage due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀: Avoid using candles or other open flames for light or heat, as they can pose a fire hazard.
𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳: While it’s important to stay warm, don’t bundle up so tightly that you risk overheating or restricting circulation.
𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝗔𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗹: While it might seem like a good idea to drink alcohol for warmth, it can actually lower your body and dehydrate you.
𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀: Do not use stoves (gas & electric), camp stoves or charcoal grills indoors, all of which produce carbon monoxide, a deadly odorless gas.

If you have questions about safe heating practices, please call or visit your local fire department.

Help, my power went out, and my generator won’t start……!!!

As we near the trailing end of this snow/icing event, and as we are forecast to have temps drop to the single digits overnight and not top the freezing point for the next week, consider this tip if you have an air-cooled generator…. First, as previously stated, clear all snow and ice from the generator and gas regulator on the gas line serving the unit. Ensure the vent is clear and not frozen over. A frozen gas regulator will prevent the generator from starting.

If you are able (feel comfortable), manually start to test the unit, as these extreme conditions will prevent some units from starting due to the extremely cold, dense air affecting fuel/air ratios and some fuel regulators sticking closed. If the unit completes a crank cycle and doesn’t start, it will go into an OverCrank fault. You can reset that fault by placing the unit in OFF and then trying the procedure again. You may have to do this 2-3 times in extreme weather if you do not have cold-weather kits (heaters) installed for your unit. Once started, allow the unit to run for 20-30 minutes and then shut down and place it back in Auto. This is a simple test to ensure your system will be ready to start automatically if you lose power. If you need help, reach out…. www.elitepowerandenergycorp.com

Last updated: February 12, 2026, 3:09 pm