Be Prepared for Anything

Winter comes around every year, and with it comes the potential for severe winter weather. While some winters may be mild, some winters will bring snow and ice with a vengeance. A little preparation ahead of time can help you and your family survive in the event of a severe storm. We hear about it all the time: A winter weather advisory comes across the news and people began running to the nearest grocery store in a panic trying to stock up on food and necessary items. That is the wrong time to prepare. The right time to prepare is in the spring, summer and fall - before an emergency arises. So what should you plan to stock up on and store “just in case?” 1. A heat source. Without heat, food and other necessary supplies won’t matter if you’re snowed or iced in your home. Don’t depend upon electric heat. Power outages for extended time periods are common in the winter as ice and snow break lines, can send a car careening into a power pole, damage transformers and generally wreak havoc. A kerosene heater, wood heater, or gas heater can mean the difference between surviving or freezing to death. The heater may not be large enough to keep your family comfortable, but it will keep you from freezing. Keep a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector on hand to warn you of carbon monoxide poisoning when you use such heaters. Be sure to have enough fuel to run the heater for a few days. Fuel to last for one week or more would be ideal. 2. Nonperishable food. Stock up on and store flour, sugar, dry milk, rice, pasta, canned goods, peanut butter, honey, tea bags. In the event of a power outage, fresh foods in the refrigerator should be used first before they spoil. Foods stored in a freezer should be good for a couple of days as long as the freezer isn’t opened. If the power stays off longer than a couple of days, frozen foods can be put outside - as long as the temperature is below freezing outside. If you do put items outside to freeze, put them into a cooler or a plastic box to keep animals away from them. Other food supplies that should be stocked up on include salt, baking soda, baking powder. The table salt can also be used on icy steps and walks if you don’t have rock salt available. 3. Water. Bottles and jugs of water should be stored in a cool, dry place. The more you can store, the better. Most municipal water supplies and even home wells depend upon electricity to pump the water, so if the power goes out your water access may be gone with it. Water will be needed for drinking, cooking, washing and flushing the toilets. Be sure you have plenty for every member of your family. A recommendation is one to five gallons per person, per day. To plan for a week-long power outage or home confinement for a family of five would require a minimum of 35 gallons of water. Even if you can’t store that much, a few bottles or jugs can be slid in the back of a closet or under a bed. 4. Medical supplies. A good first aid kit should be kept in your car and in your home. Be sure you know how to use it. A book on basic first aid would be a good resource to have on hand. If you or anyone in your family takes prescription medication, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep extra on hand. Ask your pharmacist how best to plan ahead for such an emergency. Also keep on hand rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibiotic ointment and extra bandages. 5. Snow shovels, rock salt, window scrapers. In the event of a large amount of snow or ice, these items may mean the difference between being stuck inside your home and actually being able to get outside. Rock salt (or ice melt as it is sometimes called) usually comes in large containers - if you don’t have room inside to store it, pour some of it into a smaller container to keep inside. In an emergency, cat litter can also be used for traction on ice. 6. Candles, flashlights, lamps/lanterns. Be sure to have plenty of matches available to light candles and oil lamps, as well as plenty of batteries for flashlights and lanterns. If you have oil or kerosene lamps, stock up on lamp oil or kerosene. The lamp oil can be stored inside, but due to the smell and fumes, the kerosene would be best stored outside in a garage or shed. It would be a good idea to have one flashlight available for each family member. 7. Miscellaneous items. Other items that would be a great idea to stock up on or have on hand: Blankets, scarves, mittens/gloves, hats, battery-operated radio, toilet paper, snacks, entertainment items (cards, books, small crafts, coloring books, crayons, etc.) to keep from going stir crazy, duct tape, plastic sheeting (in case of broken windows - in a pinch, plastic trash bags could also be used), disposable hand and foot warmers, walkie-talkies, thermal underwear, bleach (for purifying water). 8. A plan. While this is last on the list, it may be the most important. The best way to prepare for something is to plan ahead. Sit down with your family and write out an emergency plan so everyone will know what to do “just in case.” Family members need to know what to do, who to contact, where emergency items are located, what to do if they are separated, etc. Planning ahead and being prepared is the key to surviving winter storms and emergencies.