The first priority in a cold weather situation, according to Brown, is to keep warm. Think of it as something every kid does when they're young - building a tent in the living room. The room should be safe, dry, convenient and least exposed to the cold. Then gather up all the insulating materials you can find - mattresses, pillows, blankets, towels, diapers, and clothing. In extreme cases, you might want to consider using draperies and even carpeting.
Body warmth can go a long way.
If you need more warmth, stuff newspapers into your clothing. For some heat, you can make a coffee-can stove that can also double as a single burner hotplate to warm food. The fuel can be anything from a candle or a kerosene lamp to a can of Sterno placed beneath the open end of the can. This way, air is sucked in through the bottom of the apparatus and feeds the flame as it flows out through the top. The heat collects and radiates slowly through the top and sides of the container.