Are You Prepared for Winter Storms?
(House and Car Checklist)
Don’t forget about your pets! They get cold too!
January 15, 2020
With winter firmly established, it’s very important to be prepared in case your region is declared in a state of emergency, you are suddenly evacuated, or if you lose electricity and/or water in your basic snowstorm. Depending on the severity of the storm, your power and water could be out for a few hours to a few weeks. If you know that your location is at risk for heavy snow, use a winter weather preparedness checklist so you aren’t stuck out in the snow like the husky pictured above. (Disclaimer: This is my husky, Makita, and she loves to take naps in the snow.)
What You Should Have In Your House:
- Nonperishable food items
- Several cases of water
- Generator
- Backup chargers for electronics
- Radio
- Batteries
- Snow shovel
- Blankets
- First aid kit
- Ice melt, sand, or cat litter
- Good insulation/windows and doors that aren’t damaged so they let cold air in
- HotHands
- Drawn up water
- Fire extinguishers
- Can openers
- Pet food-
- Candles
- Bag packed with necessities in case of a sudden state of emergency or evacuation
- Duct tape
- Extra toilet paper/towels
- Scissors/pens
- Trash bags
- Extra medication/hygiene items
- Cash
House Maintenance:
- Have storm doors installed and make sure your doors and windows are insulted without damage
- Test your heating and air conditioning
- Clean your gutters
- Unhook your hoses and other water systems
- Make sure your pets won’t be exposed to frigid temperatures
- Check your fireplace and chimney
- Check the batteries in your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors
- Check for leaks in your roof/clean your roof
- Reverse ceiling fans
- Protect your outside A/C system
- Flush your water tank
- Trim tree limbs
- Check your water pipes
- Bring your potted plants inside to your shed or garage and cover them up
What You Should Have In Your Car:
- Gloves
- Ice scraper
- Blankets
- Flashlight
- HotHands
- Batteries
- First aid kit
- Pocket knives
- Hats
- Scarves
- Jumper cables
- Road map
- Flag or shirt to indicate signals
- Snacks and water
- Litter/sand or ice melt/road salt
- Waterproof matches
Car Maintenance:
- Check your fluids
- Have a proper, professional inspection done
- Put studded tires or chains on your tires
- Double-check that you have everything you need in your car to be prepared
- Keep your gas tank full (have a spare few gallons of gas)
Allison D Feamster • Jan 16, 2020 at 8:26 am
“Disclaimer: This is my husky, Makita, and she loves to take naps in the snow.”
I wasn’t sure what I saw in the picture as being either an Malamute or a Husky. Did you know they do not get cold until -20 F? Obviously, a region in danger could potentially be that cold.
Good list though.