By Kim Butterfield
Family and Consumer Science Agent
With the roughest months of winter ahead, now is the times to think about winter storm preparedness. There’s more to being prepared than your typical stop for milk and bread. To be truly prepared, you’ll need several important items in an easily accessible location.
According to the National Weather Service, your primary concerns at home or work during a winter storm are loss of heat, power and telephone service and a shortage of supplies if storm conditions continue for more than a day. You should also review generator safety instructions, if you have one, and make sure your carbon dioxide and fire detectors are in working order.
Key item to have on hand, at home and in the workplace, include:
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio and portable radio to receive emergency information
- Extra food and water such as dried fruit, nuts and granola bars, and other food requiring no cooking or refrigeration.
- Extra prescription medicine
- Baby items such as diapers and formula
- First-aid supplies
- Heating fuel: refuel before you are empty; fuel carriers may not reach you for days after a winter storm
- Emergency heat source: fireplace, wood stove or space heater, properly ventilated to prevent a fire
- Fire extinguisher, smoke alarm; test smoke alarms once a month to ensure they work properly
- Extra pet food and warm shelter for pets
With these few simple steps, you can feel confident that you and your family will have the things you could need should a winter storm emergency occur.
