I was actually working on a checklist of things to do in preparation for the winter storm we have coming in this weekend when I noticed one of my co-workers shared a document in our slack channel that was much more comprehensive than my list, so I’m stealing his… credit goes to Will Scott.
Emergency Generator
I know that having a generator is a luxury and not everyone will have one when the need arises. I highly recommend the permanent Generac models but there are also some great portable models on the market as well. For those of us that do have a generator, there are some things you will also want to have available, such as…
- Testing & Inspection: You will want to fire up your generator and make a test run prior to the storm arriving. Be sure to check oil, battery, etc.
- Fuel: You will want to have at least 5 days of fuel for your generator
- Extension Cords & Power Strips: If you have a portable generator you will want to make sure you have heavy duty extension cords and power strips.
Heat & Comfort
With temperatures forecasted to be below freezing for over 150 hours in the coming days, staying warm & comfortable will be a top priority. Here are some suggestions…
- Electric Space Heaters: can really help but please make sure that you are operating them safely.
- Gas Oven or Stove: In addition to cooking, you can also use your oven or stove as a heat source
- Close Unused Rooms: I recommend shutting doors or putting up plastic over doorways to keep warm air trapped in the common areas you and your family are hanging out.
- Seal Windows & Doors: It’s always a good idea to seal windows and doors, especially in older homes that might not be as energy efficient.
- Keep Garage Doors Closed
- Keep your thermostate set to at least 55ยบ
- Have Extra Blankets & Sleeping Bags on Hand
- Dress in Layers, Wool Socks, Insulated Gloves, Headwear
- Inspect Chimneys & Fireplaces before use.
- If burning wood, make sure to have at least a weeks supply on hand
- Make sure all propane bottles are full
Water
You need to prepare for the possibility that pipes will burst even if you’ve done everything you can to protect them. In fact, your pipes may be okay but the pipes supplying water to your home or neighborhood could burst and leave you without water. In the event this worse case scenario should happen, here are some important tips to help you survive the interuption…
- Drinking Water: I personally consume a lot of water, probably twice as much as the normal person. It’s for this reason that I always try to keep at least a months worth of water on hand. In preparation for this storm, I would try to grab at least 7-10 days worth of drinking water
- Frozen Water Jugs: I recommend filling up about 5 or 10 gallon jugs of water and freezing them. This will not only give you backup water if you should need it but it could also help to keep your freezer contents cold in the event the power goes out.
- Non-Potable Water: This is water stored either in a bath tub or in buckets that can be used for flushing toilets, etc.
Food
Next to water, food is a necessity. The chances are if there are trees down or snow & ice that needs to be shoveled you will find yourself probably burning more calories than normal so it’s important to keep yourself fueled up. Here are some recommendations for meals and snacks to get you through the coming days…
- Protein: Some really good sources of protein are eggs, bacon, sausage, beef patties, etc. These can be stored in an insulated cooler if necessary during a power outage and can be cooked easily on a grill or griddle.
- Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are where we get the fuel we will be burning in our bodies doing things that I mentioned earlier. Some great examples include; Rice, Pasta, Soups, Beans, etc.
- Breakfast Foods: It’s hard to beat the simplicity of Oatmeal & Grits when it comes to breakfast foods. There are some instant versions of these that are simple and cheap.
- Caffeine: If you are used to a cup of coffee each morning and maybe a soft drink or two during the day you will want to make sure that you make arrangements not to interrupt this habit because there’s simply nothing worse than a caffeine headache on a cold miserable day.
- Quick & Easy Snacks: My favorite snacks during the day are Granola Bars, Popcorn, and Beef Jerky. I recommend having at least a weeks worth of snacks on hand to keep your body fueled and your stomach from growling.
Plumbing
We simply aren’t prepared for winter storm events and sustained periods of time below freezing here in the south, especially from a structural or construction perspective. It’s for this reason we need to pay close attention to our pipes and plumbing. Here are a few tips to hopefully prevent problems before they happen…
- Leave Water Dripping in Your Faucets. It’s a good idea to let both your hot and cold water drip slightly in all of your indoor faucets to keep them from freezing up.
- It’s also helpful to keep the sink cabinets open when possible, this will help keep the pipes at least a few degrees warmer.
- Exposed Pipes Outdoors: If possible, you will want to make sure your outdoor exposed pipes are insulated and protected against freezing. In some cities the building codes require for anyone who has outdoor irrigation systems to have a backflow regulator installed. These are commonly made of brass and will not survive freezing. You will want to remove these backflows and bring them inside for safe keeping during the winter months.
- You will also want to make sure you know where your water main is located outside and familiarize yourself with how to shut it off in the event a leak should occur. Keep any tools that might be needed handy.
Outside / Exterior Concerns
There are a handful of things outside your home that you might want to focus your attention on prior to the incoming weather, some of these I’ve learned from experience…
- Check your gutters and drains for blockage. Last winder mine filled up with debris and then froze and one morning I looked outside and one of my gutters was hanging down and ice and water was flowing over it. Had I not fixed the problem I would have probably had my gutters crashing down.
- You will also want to go outside and make sure that all of your external water hoses are drained and put away along with any timers or nozzles you might have attached to them.
- I also recommend having a bag of sand or salt handy for the sidewalks and walkways, especially if we receive more ice than snow.
- If there is any buildup of ice on trees with this storm you are most likely going to need a chainsaw at some point. I highly recommend testing your chainsaw and make sure you have plenty of fuel and oil for it prior to the storm getting here.
Lights & Power
In the event you should happen to lost power during the storm you are going to want to want to have the following items on standy…
- Flashlights and batteries need to be easy to find when the power goes out. I would probably go ahead and snag a couple of packages of batteries to have on standby too.
- I’m also a fan of those LED lanterns you can pickup in the camping section at Walmart. They put out a lot of light and seem to run forever. I also like the LED headlamps as well.
- For your phones and electronics you might want to make sure you have a couple of those power banks handy to keep everything charged up and ready.
Vehicles & Equipment
While a lot of our focus has been on your home there’s also some things that you will want to check on related to your vehicles and equipment prior to the storm…
- Vehicles need to have full tanks of fuel and it might be a good idea to make sure your anti-freeze and windshield wiper fluids are all topped off.
- I also like to keep one of those plastic ice scrapers in my glove compartment to scrape ice off of my windshield in the morning.
- I also know people that keep sand and kitty litter in their vehicles during the winter to help them with traction if they should find themselves sliding on the ice.
Medications & Healthcare
This is probably one of the most important things on this list, especially if you have health concerns…
- Medications: You will want to make sure you have all of your medications refilled and enough supply on hand to get you through the storm.
- I also recommend having a first aid kit on hand, I’ve actually been building my kit over the past few years and it’s pretty robust. I have everything from Narcan to Tylenol in my kit.
Pets & People
I’ve always heard people talk about the three P’s when preparing for winter storms… people, pets, and pipes.
- Pets: If you are like me, the idea of your pets spending any time outside in the elements is absolutely crazy. If you have pets, please make sure they are taken care of during the harsh conditions.
- People: Be sure to check on your family and friends, especially elderly people in your lives. These harsh conditions are tougher on them than we might not realize.
Keeping Your Sanity…
While there are a lot of us that actually enjoy the snow and icy conditions but at some point we all have to take breaks and come inside to warm up. Here are a few things to think about in advance to us all finding ourselves trapped indoors together for a few days.
- Make sure phones & electronics are charged
- Board games, cards, etc. can help pass time and give us a unique opportunity to interact away from electronics. This is a lost art for most of us.
- Download podcasts and movies to enjoy offline.
- Caffeine, Nicotine, etc. whatever your vice… might want to stock up if we are going to be off the grid for a few days.
- In situations like this I always like to keep a little extra cash on hand in case credit card machines and ATMs are down for extended periods.
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