Follow these safety tips to ensure you’re prepared for winter storms and extreme cold.
Add Winter Supplies to Your Emergency Kit
Before winter approaches, add the following supplies to your emergency kit:
- Rock salt to melt ice on walkways.
- Sand to improve traction.
- Snow shovels and other snow removal equipment.
- Sufficient heating fuel. You may become isolated in your home and regular fuel sources may be cut off. Store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove.
- Adequate clothing and blankets to keep you warm.
Make a Family Communications Plan
- Make a Family Communications Plan. Your family may not be together when a storm hits, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together, and what you will do in case of an emergency.
Plan for Your Pets
- Bring pets/companion animals inside during cold winter weather. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas with non-frozen drinking water.
Winterize Your Home
- Winterize your home to extend the life of your fuel supply by insulating walls and attics, caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic
- Insulate your home by installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic from the inside to keep cold air out.
- Insulate pipes with insulation or newspapers and plastic and allow faucets to drip a little during cold weather to avoid freezing.
- Running water, even at a trickle, helps prevent pipes from freezing.
- Learn how to shut off water valves in case a pipe bursts.
Stay Indoors or Be Careful When Going Out
- Stay indoors when possible.
- Walk carefully on snowy, icy, walkways.
- Drive only if it is absolutely necessary.
- If you must drive: travel in the day; don’t travel alone; keep others informed of your schedule; stay on main roads and avoid back road shortcuts. Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle.
- Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow.
Maintain Ventilation
- Maintain ventilation when using kerosene heaters to avoid build-up of toxic fumes.
- Refuel kerosene heaters outside and keep them at least three feet from flammable objects
- Conserve fuel, if necessary, by keeping your residence cooler than normal. Temporarily close off heat to some rooms.
- Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure everyone in your house knows how to use them.
Keep the Thermostat At 55ºF or Above
- If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home.
- Set it to a temperature no lower than 55ºF.
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