Being from the northern Midwest, power outages and lots of snow are the norm. This is a trick anyone in a cold winter climate can use in a pinch. If your power goes out due to a snow or ice storm, remove the things from your refrigerator that MUST stay cold (meats, milk, etc). Take them outside and build a little snowbank to put them in. They will stay colder this way than they would fighting your broken fridge and the temperature of your home.