Storm Preparation

11/22/2016 (Permalink)

Preparation Kit

There are a few items you are going to want to have in case of a snowstorm.  The governmental Ready Campaign’s Public Service Announcement lists the items recommended to add to your emergency kit.  The Public Service Announcement list contains rock salt, sand, snow shovels, heating fuel, and sufficient clothing.  It may not be a bad idea to keep these items in your vehicle if you drive.  The full list specifically regarding vehicles also includes a flashlight, windshield scraper, battery powered radio, batteries, water, snack food, matches, First aid kit, pocket knife, necessary medications, rope, booster cables, flares, and a fluorescent distress flag.  The distress flag may come at a shock, but if you are trapped with your vehicle as your only shelter it might come in handy.

Be Informed

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross have created phone applications that give alerts and warnings.  These applications also provide information on first aid and finding shelters.  There are also two terms you may want to familiarize yourself with regarding alerts.  They are “watch” and “warning.”  The difference is a winter storm watch means that the storm is possible in your area.  Watches are generally issues 12 to 36 hours in advance of the storm.  However, a winter storm warning means that there will be a storm in your area, or it is already present.

House Preparation

There are a several different steps you can take to prepare your home for a snowstorm.  Common knowledge suggests increasing insulation.  This includes walls, attics, windows, doors, and pipes.  Insulating the items suggested will help keep heat in the home throughout the winter season.  If you have a chimney it would be a good idea to have it cleaned and inspected annually.  Having a fire extinguisher available would not hurt either.  However, what I believe to be the most important part of house preparation is learning how to shut off each of your water valves.  This is in case a pipe bursts.  The faster you can turn off that valve related to the specific pipe burst, the less damage will be inflicted on the house.  If it takes you an additional five minutes to learn how to turn off that valve, that is five more additional minutes of water flooding from the broken pipe.