Warm Up To Winter Storm Preparedness

Avoid the complacency trap! If, one year, you invest the time and money into preparing for the worst winter storm you can imagine and then it doesn't happen, there is a danger that you will slack off the next year. Don't let that happen! The time when you are not prepared for something is always (or so it seems) when that particular something happens. Not preparing for a bad winter storm could be very costly.

Preparing Your Family

If you don't already have one, put together a disaster supply kit that contains a first aid kit and first aid guide, any special medicines needed by family members, bottled water, ready-to-eat food, juices or other drinks, paper plates, plastic utensils, an assortment of small pots for warming up food or water, some cooking utensils and some cups, warm clothing or protective clothing and heavy shoes and boots, thermal blankets, flashlights or lanterns, candles, extra batteries and extra fuel if you are using camping lanterns, matches in a water-tight case, a battery powered radio and an easy-to-carry container for portability.

After a winter storm you may be stranded at home or several days. As soon as winter starts, make sure your supply of heating fuel is topped off and keep it at an adequate level. It's very possible that power lines will be knocked down and your electricity disrupted; some homes have emergency generators for this eventuality and others have other types of non-electric space heaters. In either case, test and maintain the equipment often to make sure it won't fail you when you need it.

Alternate heating equipment can pose a risk of fire unless used safely and maintained properly. If you use a kerosene heater as an emergency heat source, make sure there is adequate ventilation so the kerosene fumes don't build up and always take it outside to refuel it. Keep all space heaters well away from flammable materials. Make sure you have as many fire extinguishers as required for a home your size, keep them charged up and make sure everyone knows how to use them.

Dress yourself and your children in several layers of lightweight, loose-fitting clothes instead of one layer of heavy clothing. Besides a good, water-repellant coat everyone should have warm head gear along with scarves and gloves or mittens; use the scarf over your mouths to keep the freezing air out of your lungs.

If you have a nearby neighbor or relative who is elderly or disabled, make plans to assist them through a winter emergency.

Preparing Your Car

Keep your car(s) maintained and fueled up more than half way. Unless you're able to do it yourself, have your car(s) winterized by a professional; they will check all the systems to make sure your transportation is usable when you need it. If you have a car you don't use often, it needs to be started and warmed-up at least every two-to-three days.

Prepare a winter emergency kit for each vehicle. Every vehicle needs a shovel, an ice scraper, a flashlight or battery lantern, extra batteries and extra bulbs, a battery powered radio, water, some simple snack food, a few thermal blankets, a tow chain or rope, something to use for traction like road salt, sand or cat gravel, jumper cables, emergency flares and a distress flag. Having a cell phone or some form of emergency communication device with you or in your vehicle at all times is a great idea. During a winter weather event or advisory only drive when you have to — being stuck on the road somewhere away from your home and family is not a good idea.

Preparing Your Home

Seal up all the places where winter winds can sneak into your home, make sure you have adequate insulation and, if you don't have storm windows or window covers, cover the windows with plastic sheeting.

If you have any outside structures for livestock or equipment, make sure they are in good repair and properly insulated. Any trees with limbs that extend over your home or out buildings should have the branches cut away so they don't fall and damage the roofs. If you have any leaky roofs, they should have been repaired before winter came to your town.

Insulate water pipes with newspaper and plastic to avoid them freezing up. If a pipe bursts, make sure you know where your main water valves are located.

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