Preparing for Winter Storms

It is a wise idea to prepare your living quarters for winter weather. The cold can cause health issues and damage your property. Here are some ideas to help you survive bad winter weather.

Seal drafty windows, doors, and walls.

Be sure to close garage doors.

Disconnect outdoor hoses. Turn off and insulate all outdoor faucets.

Open the cabinet doors below sinks. This allows warm interior air to circulate and keep pipes from freezing. Let water drip from taps to prevent pipes from bursting if they do freeze.

If you have a ceiling fan, be sure it is operating clockwise. That will send warm air (which naturally rises toward the ceiling) down toward the floor.

Pipes and water heaters located in the attic or basement should be wrapped in a blanket of insulating material so they don’t freeze.

If you heat with a fireplace or wood-burning stove, be sure your chimney is cleaned and inspected. This reduces the chance of home heating fires.

If you will be leaving the home unattended, set the thermostat to 65 degrees or higher.

If your electricity goes off, DO NOT open your freezer or refrigerator. Keeping them shut keeps the food inside cooler and safer for longer. How to tell if the food is still safe when the electricity comes back on? Here’s a quick trick using a cup of water and a coin:  https://weather.com/home-garden/video/pro-tip-for-your-freezer-in-case-of-a-power-outage

Be sure your car is prepared with a winter emergency toolkit and survival supplies. Stay off the road if at all possible.

For more information about preparing for winter storms:

https://community.fema.gov/ProtectiveActions/s/article/Winter-Storm

https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/beforestorm/preparehome.html

https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/winter-storm.html

https://www.weather.gov/safety/winter-before