We are in the middle of the winter season and some places have been ravaged by snowstorms. Being in the south, we don’t feel the effects of winter like the rest of the country. In Buffalo, they’re dealing with a massive snowstorm that forced their playoff game to be postponed. The next couple of days will see chances of snow falling in some parts of Georgia. Being in Georgia, we get snow or ice every few years and we’re not fully prepared. These storms could bring extreme cold, high winds and freezing and ice rain. We know we would have school closures, but so many more could be affected like power outages. Are you not sure how to prepare you and your family for winter weather? If not, check out these 9 steps to take to prepare for a winter storm.
Stock Up on Food
Always keep your pantry stocked up with food whether it’s a storm coming or not. In Georgia, we know as soon as they say winter weather everyone runs to the store and buy all the supplies. Your pantry should include many non-perishable items so that if you lose power, you won’t have to worry about any of it spoiling. On average, aim to have enough food for at least three days. Crackers, canned goods, instant coffee and cocoa, peanut butter, bread, and granola bars are a start. You can grab some apples, oranges, bananas, or fresh veggies because they don’t go in the refrigerator. If you have pets, don’t forget to pick up food for them too.
Unlimited Supply of Water
Make sure you have plenty of bottled water in case your pipes freeze. If your pipes should freeze, you might also need water for brushing your teeth, doing dishes, flushing toilets or bathing. You can also fill up the bathtub, jugs, bottles, and other containers with water ahead of the storm. Just make sure you have a minimum of 3 gallons of water for each person in your household — and don’t forget to have enough for the pets.
Build an Emergency Kit
Make sure you have easy access to anything that you might need in an emergency. Your emergency kit should include things like first aid items, a battery-powered or hand crank NOAA Weather Radio. You may want to keep non-prescription medications such as pain relievers and some extra batteries. The emergency kit should also have important family documents, garbage bags and a manual can opener.
Prepare for Lights Going Out
Charge your cell phones, iPads, iPods, and have some portable backups batteries on hand. It’s also not a bad idea to have flashlights or battery-powered lights handy throughout the house. If you live in an area where power outages are frequent, you might want to consider getting a generator. You can get a portable one or even a home standby model. If you do have a portable one, make sure you have gasoline or propane before the storm.
Protect Those Water Pipes
You have a lot to worry about, but do not neglect those water pipes. If temperatures are expected to drop to 28 degrees or below for 4 hours or more, you should take precautions. Not only will a frozen pipe cut off your running water supply, but because water expands when it freezes it can cause metal or plastic pipes to burst.. This is one of the greatest and costliest damages from winter storms. To help prevent frozen pipes, let cold water drip from faucets served by exposed pipes because running water. Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate near plumbing. Add pipe insulation to any pipes that are particularly prone to freezing.
Seal Windows and Doors
Windows and doors can be drafty, allowing cold air in and warm air out. That’s why it’s a good idea to seal any windows with an insulation kit that you can pick up at any hardware store. You can also pick up weather stripping at the store to better seal your front door. You can also pick up insulated blinds to help keep the warm air inside the house.
Check on Your Yard
Before the storm hits, check your yard for branches that could fall on your home. If you can, you will want to trim those back to prevent them from doing damage to your home during the storm. If this is something that’s not for you, call a professional tree cutter to do the trimming. If any tree branches are in the vicinity of power lines, you’ll need to call a professional. If you haven’t already, mulch your gardens to protect plants that you don’t want to freeze.
Make Sure Your Vehicle is Ready
There are things to do to keep your vehicle ready for the winter time. You can check your antifreeze levels, battery, heat, lights, oil, and a few other things. Then, prepare your car with things you might need should the blizzard trap you in it. Blankets, water, jumper cables, ice scrapers, warm clothes, snacks, and a first-aid kit is a start. It’s also not a bad idea to have some sand or cat litter on hand to give your tires better traction on snow or ice if you get stuck.
Keep Updates
Listen to your NOAA weather radio for alerts and warnings to hazards. Check the forecast consistently online or on your phone. Sign up for local emergency alerts and notifications. Know how to turn off your utilities, such as gas lines, in an emergency when you need to. Also, be sure you know the signs of hypothermia and frostbite and be ready to check on neighbors. Hypothermia exhibits itself as uncontrollable shivering, memory loss or disorientation, slurred speech, drowsiness, and exhaustion.
