My house is heated by a natural gas furnace. My plan, if the gas is still working and the power is out, involves wiring a pigtail in where the furnace’s cutoff switch is located, and using a large power bank backed up by a small generator. Assuming other services (water, groceries, gas from gas stations) are available, we could go indefinitely that way.

If we lost natural gas in weather like this, I don’t think I could keep my pipes from freezing without shutting off the water and draining the pipes. I can run a space heater off a generator for a “warm room.” I also have an indoor-safe propane heater, but if we get down to that we probably waited too long to depart.

One day I’d like to own a place with a “whole house” generator setup, or even better one with solar and/or hydropower along with a battery bank. But that won’t be soon.