Preparing for Winter Storms
A major winter storm can be lethal. Preparing for cold weather conditions and responding to them effectively can reduce the dangers caused by winter storms. Some tasks to be done are just common sense. Others tasks involve you making sure your house is winterized properly and making sure that you buy a few items from the local home improvement store. Just make sure you are prepared before the weather, the potential pounding by snow, wind and the numbing cold wind-chill, actually comes to your area. Here is a list of items that can help you prepare for the storm before it hits your home.
Follow these items before a storm hits:
- Be familiar with winter storm warning messages
- Service snow removal equipment and have rock salt on hand to melt ice on walkways and kitty litter to generate temporary traction.
- Make sure you have sufficient heating fuel; regular fuel sources may be cut off.
- Winterize your home.
- * Insulate walls and attic.
- * Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows.
- * Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside.
- Have safe emergency heating equipment available.
- * Fireplace with ample supply of wood· Small, well-vented, wood, coal, or camp stove with fuel
- * Portable space heaters or kerosene heaters (See Kerosene Heaters)
- Install and check smoke detectors.
- Contact your local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter for more information on winter storms.
- Keep pipes from freezing.
- * Wrap pipes in insulation or layers of old newspapers.
- * Cover the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture.
- * Let faucets drip a little to avoid freezing.
- * Know how to shut off water valves.
- Have disaster supplies on hand, in case the power goes out.
- * Flashlight and extra batteries
- Portable, battery-operated radio and extra batteries
- * First aid kit
- * One-week supply of food (include items that do not require refrigeration or cooking in case the power is shut off)
- * Non-electric can opener
- * One-week supply of essential prescription medications
- * Extra blankets and sleeping bags
- * Fire extinguisher (A-B-C type)
During the storm, make sure to try to stay inside and stay warm. After the storm passes, be sure to be cautious when going outside. If you have a porch over the door you are going out of the weight of the snow from the storm might have made the porch top heavy and possibly so heavy that the structure will fail. You do not want it to topple onto you or one of your family members.
After the storm if there is damage you will undoubtedly need your insurance papers to call your agent and report the damage. Make sure you have put your insurance information in a safe but accessible place in your house. In addition, if the storm did damage to your vehicle you might need your auto insurance papers as well.
Hail damage or damage done to your car by falling tree limbs, etc will need to be reported. Therefore, before the storm arrives, make sure both your home and car insurance policies are up to date and cover everything that you will need to have covered. If you need to add more coverage to your auto insurance before the storm hits visit CarInsurance.com Shopping at CarInsurance.com makes it easier because you can quickly see multiple auto insurance companies and their rates for your particular situation.
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